CVE-2025-1702: Ultimate Member Plugin SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-1702 Overview

The Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via the search parameter in all versions up to, and including, 2.10.0. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient escaping on the user-supplied parameter and a lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data including user credentials, personal information, and other confidential data stored in the WordPress database without any authentication requirements.

Affected Products

• Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 2.10.0
• WordPress sites utilizing the Ultimate Member plugin for user management functionality
• Any WordPress installation with the affected plugin versions installed and member directory functionality enabled

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-03-05 - CVE-2025-1702 published to NVD
• 2025-03-05 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-1702

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 (SQL Injection), a time-based blind SQL injection flaw that affects the member directory search functionality within the Ultimate Member plugin. The vulnerability resides in the class-member-directory.php file, specifically in the handling of the search parameter used for querying the member directory.

Time-based SQL injection is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to infer database information through response time delays. By injecting SQL commands that conditionally cause database delays (such as SLEEP() functions), attackers can extract data character by character without receiving direct query results.

The attack requires no authentication, making every WordPress site running vulnerable versions of Ultimate Member a potential target. Successful exploitation allows attackers to read arbitrary data from the WordPress database, including user passwords hashes, email addresses, and other sensitive information stored in wp_users and wp_usermeta tables.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-1702 is improper input sanitization and lack of parameterized queries (prepared statements) when processing user-supplied search input. The search parameter is incorporated directly into SQL queries without adequate escaping or preparation, violating secure coding practices for database interactions.

Specifically, the vulnerable code paths are located in lines 1775 and 1863 of class-member-directory.php, where user input flows into database queries without proper sanitization through WordPress's $wpdb->prepare() method or equivalent escaping functions.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no user interaction or authentication. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by:

1. Accessing the WordPress site's member directory functionality
2. Injecting malicious SQL payloads through the search parameter
3. Using time-based inference techniques to extract database contents
4. Leveraging extracted credentials for further attacks or unauthorized access

The exploitation mechanism involves crafting HTTP requests to the member directory search endpoint with malicious SQL payloads. For example, an attacker could use conditional SLEEP() statements to determine if specific conditions are true, gradually extracting database contents through timing analysis.

Detailed technical information about the vulnerable code paths can be found in the WordPress Plugin Code Review and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-1702

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database query execution times or server response delays on member directory pages
• HTTP request logs showing suspicious search parameter values containing SQL syntax like SLEEP(), BENCHMARK(), or WAITFOR
• Database slow query logs indicating abnormal query patterns or extended execution times
• Web application firewall (WAF) alerts for SQL injection signatures targeting the member directory endpoint

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in the search parameter
• Monitor HTTP access logs for requests containing SQL keywords (SELECT, UNION, SLEEP, BENCHMARK) in query parameters
• Enable MySQL slow query logging to identify queries with unusual execution patterns
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity XDR for real-time behavioral detection of exploitation attempts against WordPress plugins

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure alerting for database queries with execution times exceeding normal thresholds
• Implement log aggregation and analysis for WordPress access logs, specifically monitoring member directory endpoints
• Utilize intrusion detection systems (IDS) with updated SQL injection signatures
• Review WordPress plugin update status regularly and alert on outdated vulnerable plugins

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-1702

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Ultimate Member plugin to version 2.10.1 or later immediately
• Review database access logs for signs of exploitation attempts
• Consider temporarily disabling the member directory feature until patching is complete
• Implement web application firewall rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting the search parameter
• Rotate database credentials and WordPress user passwords if exploitation is suspected

Patch Information

The vulnerability has been addressed by the plugin developers. The fix implements proper SQL query preparation and input sanitization for the search parameter. The patch can be reviewed in the GitHub Pull Request Commits and the WordPress Plugin Changeset.

Users should update through the WordPress admin dashboard or download the patched version from the Ultimate Member plugin page.

Workarounds

• Disable the member directory search functionality by removing or restricting access to member directory pages
• Implement a web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules as a temporary protective measure
• Restrict access to member directory pages via .htaccess rules or WordPress access control plugins
• Consider using server-level ModSecurity rules to block requests containing SQL injection patterns in the search parameter

# Example .htaccess rule to temporarily restrict member directory access
# Add to WordPress root .htaccess file
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    # Block requests with suspicious SQL injection patterns
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (sleep|benchmark|waitfor|delay)\s*\( [NC,OR]
    RewriteCond %{QUERY_STRING} (union|select|insert|update|delete|drop)\s+ [NC]
    RewriteRule .* - [F,L]
</IfModule>