CVE-2025-0861 Overview
CVE-2025-0861 affects the VR-Frases (collect & share quotes) plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 3.0.1. The plugin fails to properly escape user-supplied parameters and lacks sufficient preparation of SQL queries. Attackers can append additional SQL queries to existing statements to extract sensitive data from the WordPress database. The flaw is classified under [CWE-89] SQL Injection and stems from insecure database query construction inside vr-frases-admin.php.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with high privileges can exploit injectable parameters to read arbitrary data from the WordPress database, including credentials and session tokens.
Affected Products
- VR-Frases (collect & share quotes) WordPress plugin
- All versions through 3.0.1
- Vendor: vruiz
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-30 - CVE-2025-0861 published to NVD
- 2026-04-08 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-0861
Vulnerability Analysis
The VR-Frases plugin constructs SQL queries by concatenating user-supplied input directly into the query string. The plugin does not use prepared statements with parameter binding, and it does not escape input through WordPress functions such as esc_sql() or $wpdb->prepare(). As a result, attackers can break out of the intended query context and inject arbitrary SQL syntax.
The vulnerable logic resides in includes/vr-frases-admin.php. Multiple parameters processed by the administrative handlers feed directly into database queries without sanitization. While the attack vector is network-based, exploitation requires high privileges, limiting practical exposure to users who already hold administrative roles within the WordPress site.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The plugin developer relied on raw query construction with the $wpdb global rather than parameterized queries. Any single-quote, comment marker, or UNION keyword passed through the affected parameters becomes part of the executed statement.
Attack Vector
An attacker with high-privilege access sends crafted HTTP requests to the plugin's admin endpoints. The injected payload can use UNION SELECT clauses to exfiltrate data from wp_users, wp_usermeta, or any other table accessible to the WordPress database user. Refer to the Wordfence Vulnerability Report and the WordPress Plugin Source Code for parameter-level technical details.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available. The EPSS score is 0.123%.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-0861
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to VR-Frases admin endpoints containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, or SELECT
- Unexpected database errors logged by WordPress or MySQL referencing VR-Frases handlers
- Outbound queries returning unusually large result sets from admin sessions
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for requests to vr-frases admin pages with suspicious query string parameters
- Enable MySQL general query logging temporarily to capture queries containing concatenated user input
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule set with SQL injection signatures tuned for WordPress plugin endpoints
Monitoring Recommendations
- Audit administrator account activity for unexpected logins or privilege changes
- Monitor wp_users and wp_options tables for unauthorized modifications
- Alert on database error responses returned to authenticated admin sessions
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-0861
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate and remove the VR-Frases plugin until a patched version is published by the vendor
- Restrict administrative access to the WordPress dashboard through IP allowlisting or VPN gating
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and database passwords if compromise is suspected
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no fixed release beyond version 3.0.1 is identified in the NVD record. Review the WordPress Trac Changeset and the vendor advisory for updates. Administrators should subscribe to the WordPress plugin repository notifications for the affected component.
Workarounds
- Remove the plugin entirely if it is not business-critical
- Apply a WAF rule that blocks SQL injection payloads on VR-Frases admin URLs
- Enforce least privilege so that fewer accounts hold the high-privilege role required to reach the vulnerable handlers
# Disable the plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate vr-frases
wp plugin delete vr-frases
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
