CVE-2025-22351: Contact Form 7 Database SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-22351 Overview

CVE-2025-22351 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the penguinarts Contact Form 7 Database (CFDB7) WordPress plugin, also known as advanced-cf7-database. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands [CWE-89]. It impacts all plugin versions up to and including 1.0.0.

An attacker with high privileges can inject crafted SQL statements through the plugin, leading to confidentiality compromise of backend data and partial impact to availability. The scope is marked as changed, indicating the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the originally vulnerable component.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can extract sensitive database contents and potentially disrupt service through crafted SQL queries against the WordPress database.

Affected Products

penguinarts Contact Form 7 Database – CFDB7 (advanced-cf7-database) WordPress plugin
All versions from initial release through 1.0.0
WordPress sites using the affected plugin to store Contact Form 7 submissions

Discovery Timeline

2025-01-07 - CVE-2025-22351 published to NVD
2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-22351

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the CFDB7 plugin, which stores Contact Form 7 submissions in the WordPress database. User-controlled input reaches SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. This allows authenticated attackers to embed SQL syntax that the database engine executes as part of legitimate queries.

The vulnerability requires high privileges to exploit, narrowing the attacker pool to authenticated users with elevated WordPress roles. However, the scope change indicates that successful exploitation extends beyond the plugin context to the underlying database, exposing data outside the plugin's direct boundary.

The confidentiality impact is high while integrity is unaffected, suggesting the injection is primarily useful for data extraction rather than arbitrary write operations. Availability impact is low, consistent with query-level disruption rather than full denial of service.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands [CWE-89]. The plugin concatenates input into SQL queries instead of using prepared statements or the WordPress $wpdb->prepare() API. This pattern allows attacker-controlled metacharacters such as quotes, semicolons, and SQL keywords to alter query semantics.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network through the WordPress admin interface, where authenticated users with high privileges interact with CFDB7 functionality. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's own session. An attacker crafts payloads in parameters processed by the plugin's database queries, triggering execution of injected SQL.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Vulnerability advisory for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22351

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected SQL syntax fragments (e.g., UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, OR 1=1) appearing in WordPress request logs targeting CFDB7 endpoints
Anomalous database query patterns or query errors originating from the advanced-cf7-database plugin
Unusual outbound data volumes from the WordPress host following admin-area activity
New or modified entries in CFDB7 storage tables that do not correspond to legitimate form submissions

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for requests to CFDB7 admin pages containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, ;, or encoded equivalents
Enable MySQL general query logging or slow query logging temporarily to identify malformed queries originating from the plugin
Deploy a web application firewall ruleset that flags SQL injection patterns against /wp-admin/ requests referencing the plugin

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward WordPress audit logs and database query logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation
Alert on privileged WordPress account logins from unusual IP addresses or geographies
Track changes to high-privilege WordPress user accounts that could be used to satisfy the privilege requirement

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22351

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress installations running the CFDB7 (advanced-cf7-database) plugin at version 1.0.0 or earlier
Deactivate and remove the vulnerable plugin until a patched version is confirmed installed
Audit WordPress accounts with high privileges and revoke unnecessary access
Review database contents for evidence of unauthorized extraction or modification

Patch Information

At the time of publication, the advisory indicates the issue affects CFDB7 versions through 1.0.0. Consult the Patchstack advisory and the plugin maintainer's repository for the latest patched release before redeploying.

Workarounds

Restrict access to the WordPress admin interface using IP allowlisting at the web server or firewall
Enforce strong authentication and multi-factor authentication for all administrator and editor accounts
Apply a web application firewall rule to block SQL injection signatures targeting CFDB7 endpoints
Limit the database user account used by WordPress to least privileges required, removing rights such as FILE and broad schema access

bash

# Example: Disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI until a patch is applied
wp plugin deactivate advanced-cf7-database
wp plugin delete advanced-cf7-database