CVE-2025-11501: WordPress DDP Plugin SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-11501 Overview

CVE-2025-11501 is an unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability in the Dynamically Display Posts plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 1.1. It exists because the tax_query parameter is not properly escaped, and the resulting SQL statement is not adequately prepared before execution. Unauthenticated attackers can append additional SQL clauses to existing queries and extract sensitive data from the WordPress database. The weakness is classified under CWE-89, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can extract sensitive database content, including user records, password hashes, and configuration secrets stored in wp_options.

Affected Products

Dynamically Display Posts plugin for WordPress, all versions through 1.1
WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin with public-facing endpoints
Any WordPress deployment where the plugin processes the tax_query parameter from user input

Discovery Timeline

2025-10-15 - CVE-2025-11501 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-04-15 - Last updated in the NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-11501

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the plugin's database interaction layer, specifically within the database-talk.php class file. The plugin accepts a tax_query parameter from HTTP requests and concatenates the value into a SQL statement without prepared statement bindings. Because the input is neither escaped with esc_sql() nor passed through $wpdb->prepare(), an attacker controls part of the SQL syntax sent to the database engine.

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. Confidentiality impact is the primary concern, as attackers can append UNION SELECT clauses or stacked subqueries to read arbitrary tables. According to the EPSS model, the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days is 0.105%.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient input sanitization on the tax_query parameter combined with the absence of parameterized query construction. WordPress provides $wpdb->prepare() for safe query composition, but the plugin builds the SQL string through direct concatenation. Any string supplied by an unauthenticated client reaches the MySQL parser without neutralization.

Attack Vector

An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request containing malicious SQL syntax in the tax_query parameter. The injected payload terminates the original query context and appends an attacker-controlled clause. The database returns results that the application reflects back to the attacker or stores in cache, allowing extraction of usernames, password hashes from wp_users, secret keys, and API tokens. Refer to the WordPress Database Talk Class source and the Wordfence Vulnerability Analysis for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-11501

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP(, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA inside the tax_query parameter
Web server access logs showing unusually long query strings or URL-encoded single quotes (%27) targeting plugin endpoints
Database error messages referencing syntax errors near taxonomy query fragments
Anomalous outbound data volume from the WordPress host following plugin requests

Detection Strategies

Inspect web access logs for tax_query values containing SQL metacharacters or boolean-based payloads
Enable MySQL general or slow query logs and search for queries with concatenated taxonomy clauses that include UNION or comment markers (--, #)
Deploy a web application firewall rule set that flags SQL injection patterns against WordPress request parameters
Correlate plugin request spikes from a single IP with elevated database response sizes

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward WordPress and reverse proxy logs to a centralized analytics platform for query parameter inspection
Alert on repeated 500-series responses tied to plugin URLs, which often indicate injection probing
Monitor outbound traffic from the WordPress server for unexpected data egress to unfamiliar destinations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-11501

Immediate Actions Required

Disable or remove the Dynamically Display Posts plugin until a patched version is available
Restrict access to WordPress endpoints exposing the tax_query parameter using IP allowlists or authentication
Rotate WordPress secret keys in wp-config.php and reset administrator passwords if exploitation is suspected
Audit the wp_users table and recent database query logs for signs of unauthorized data extraction

Patch Information

At the time of NVD publication, all versions through 1.1 of the Dynamically Display Posts plugin are vulnerable. Check the WordPress plugin repository for updated releases that introduce $wpdb->prepare() bindings on the tax_query parameter. Apply the vendor patch as soon as a fixed version is published.

Workarounds

Deploy a WAF rule that blocks SQL syntax tokens in the tax_query request parameter
Place the WordPress site behind a reverse proxy configured to reject requests with suspicious query strings
Limit database privileges of the WordPress MySQL user to the minimum required tables to reduce data exposure if injection succeeds

bash

# Example ModSecurity rule to block SQL injection in tax_query
SecRule ARGS:tax_query "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1011501,phase:2,deny,status:403,\
    msg:'CVE-2025-11501 SQLi attempt in tax_query',\
    tag:'CWE-89',tag:'wordpress'"