CVE-2025-22349 Overview
CVE-2025-22349 is a SQL Injection vulnerability in the WP Marka WordPress Auction Plugin (wp-auctions). The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. It affects all plugin versions up to and including 3.7.
An authenticated attacker with high privileges can inject SQL statements through unsanitized input parameters processed by the plugin. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to read sensitive database contents and impact availability across the WordPress site, including data from other tenants in shared environments.
Critical Impact
Authenticated SQL injection enables disclosure of WordPress database contents and a scope change that can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component.
Affected Products
- WP Marka WordPress Auction Plugin (wp-auctions) versions through 3.7
- WordPress sites running the plugin with database-backed auction functionality
- Multi-site WordPress installations sharing the plugin database
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-07 - CVE-2025-22349 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-22349
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a classic SQL injection in the wp-auctions plugin. User-controlled input is concatenated into SQL queries without proper parameterization or escaping. WordPress provides $wpdb->prepare() for safe parameterized queries, but the plugin code paths handling auction-related parameters do not apply it consistently.
Exploitation requires authentication at a high privilege level, which limits the attacker pool to users with elevated WordPress roles. However, the scope change indicates that injected queries can read or affect data outside the plugin's own tables, including core WordPress tables such as wp_users and wp_options.
The impact profile favors confidentiality and availability. Attackers can extract password hashes, session tokens, and configuration secrets, or issue queries that degrade database responsiveness. The integrity impact is rated none, suggesting the injection points are read or denial paths rather than arbitrary write primitives.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input sanitization on parameters that flow into raw SQL statements. The plugin builds query strings via string concatenation instead of using prepared statements with placeholder binding.
Attack Vector
The attack is delivered over the network against a WordPress site running wp-auctions 3.7 or earlier. An attacker authenticates with a high-privilege account, then sends a crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable plugin endpoint. The malicious payload terminates the intended SQL statement and appends attacker-controlled clauses such as UNION SELECT to exfiltrate data from arbitrary tables.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. Refer to the Patchstack advisory for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22349
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to wp-auctions plugin endpoints containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, SLEEP(, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA
- Unexpected SELECT queries against wp_users or wp_usermeta in MySQL slow or general logs
- Outbound database errors surfaced in WordPress debug logs originating from wp-auctions PHP files
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for parameters passed to wp-auctions handlers containing SQL syntax tokens or URL-encoded equivalents
- Enable MySQL query logging and alert on queries referencing auction tables joined with sensitive WordPress core tables
- Apply web application firewall rules that flag injection patterns targeting WordPress plugin query strings and POST bodies
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track authentication events for high-privilege WordPress accounts and correlate with subsequent plugin endpoint access
- Monitor for sudden spikes in database error responses or response-time anomalies linked to auction pages
- Audit installed plugin versions across WordPress fleets and alert when wp-auctions 3.7 or earlier is present
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22349
Immediate Actions Required
- Disable the wp-auctions plugin on any WordPress site running version 3.7 or earlier until a fixed release is confirmed
- Rotate credentials for high-privilege WordPress accounts that could reach the vulnerable endpoints
- Review database audit logs for unauthorized SELECT activity against user and option tables
Patch Information
No fixed version is identified in the NVD record at the time of publication. Consult the Patchstack advisory for the latest vendor remediation status and upgrade to a patched release once available.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to WordPress administrative paths using IP allowlisting at the reverse proxy or firewall
- Deploy a WordPress-aware web application firewall ruleset that blocks SQL injection patterns against wp-auctions URLs
- Remove the plugin entirely if auction functionality is not business-critical, and prune residual database tables
# Disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate wp-auctions
wp plugin delete wp-auctions
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
