Introduction: The following article provides a detailed analysis of the CVE-2025-3776 vulnerability found in the Verification SMS with TargetSMS plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability affects all plugin versions up to and including version 1.5 and allows unauthenticated attackers to execute remote code on the target site.
Background: The Verification SMS with TargetSMS plugin is designed to help WordPress site administrators add SMS verification capabilities to their sites. The plugin works by sending a verification code to the user's mobile device when they sign up for an account or perform other actions.
Vulnerability Description: The vulnerability in the TargetSMS plugin lies in the 'targetvr_ajax_handler' function, which fails to adequately validate the type of function being called. This oversight makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to execute any callable function, such as phpinfo(), on the website.
Exploit Details: An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a carefully crafted HTTP request to the target site that includes the name of a callable function for execution. For example:
POST /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php HTTP/1.1
Host: target-website.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
Content-Length: 50
action=targetvr_ajax_handler&function=phpinfo
This example HTTP request would cause the target site to execute phpinfo(), which can provide valuable information to an attacker about the site's environment and configuration.
Mitigation Strategies: To mitigate this vulnerability, website administrators should immediately update the Verification SMS with TargetSMS plugin to the latest version, which includes a patch addressing this issue. Moreover, it is essential to exercise caution when installing third-party plugins by verifying their security and reputation. Regularly auditing and updating installed plugins can also help identify and rectify potential risks.
Original References: Below are some links to original references discussing this vulnerability
1. CVE-2025-3776 Details - MITRE's official CVE page for this vulnerability.
2. Verification SMS with TargetSMS Plugin Vulnerability Report - The security blog where this vulnerability was first reported.
3. WordPress Plugin Directory - The official WordPress plugin directory page for the Verification SMS with TargetSMS plugin, which includes a link to download the latest patched version.
Conclusion: The CVE-2025-3776 vulnerability highlights the need to be diligent when using third-party plugins on a website. Unpatched vulnerabilities such as this one can pose significant risks to both the website and its users, enabling attackers to gain unauthorized access and execute remote code. Regularly updating and auditing plugins, as well as implementing proper security measures, can help protect against these threats.
Timeline
Published on: 04/24/2025 09:15:31 UTC
Last modified on: 04/29/2025 13:52:47 UTC