CVE-2025-22523: NotFound Schedule SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2025-22523 Overview

CVE-2025-22523 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the WordPress Schedule plugin by NotFound. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, enabling attackers to perform Blind SQL Injection attacks against vulnerable WordPress installations. This flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to extract sensitive database information, potentially compromising the entire WordPress site and its underlying database.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this Blind SQL Injection vulnerability to extract sensitive database contents, including user credentials, configuration data, and other confidential information stored in WordPress databases.

Affected Products

• WordPress Schedule Plugin version 1.0.0 and earlier
• WordPress installations running the vulnerable Schedule plugin
• Any web application utilizing the NotFound Schedule component

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-03-28 - CVE-2025-22523 published to NVD
• 2025-03-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-22523

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command), commonly known as SQL Injection. The Schedule plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL statements that are executed by the database server.

Blind SQL Injection is particularly concerning because it allows attackers to extract data even when the application does not directly display query results. Attackers can infer information through time-based or boolean-based techniques, making detection more challenging while still enabling full database compromise.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-22523 lies in the insufficient input validation and sanitization within the Schedule plugin's database query handling. User-controlled parameters are concatenated directly into SQL statements without proper escaping, parameterization, or prepared statement usage. This allows malicious SQL syntax to be interpreted as part of the query structure rather than as literal data values.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without authentication requirements. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing SQL injection payloads targeting vulnerable endpoints in the Schedule plugin. Since this is a Blind SQL Injection, the attacker uses inference techniques to extract data:

• Boolean-based blind injection: Crafting queries that return different responses based on true/false conditions
• Time-based blind injection: Using SQL functions like SLEEP() or BENCHMARK() to create measurable delays indicating successful injection

The attack can be automated using tools like SQLMap to systematically extract database contents including WordPress user tables, password hashes, and plugin configuration data. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the Patchstack vulnerability database entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22523

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL syntax patterns in HTTP request parameters targeting Schedule plugin endpoints
• Database query logs showing injected SQL statements containing UNION SELECT, SLEEP(), or BENCHMARK() functions
• Abnormal response time patterns indicating time-based SQL injection attempts
• Multiple failed or suspicious requests to Schedule plugin-related URLs
• Evidence of data exfiltration or unauthorized database queries in application logs

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns in request parameters
• Implement database query logging and monitor for anomalous query patterns or syntax errors
• Enable WordPress security plugins that provide real-time SQL injection detection
• Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on SQL injection attack signatures
• Review Apache/Nginx access logs for suspicious parameter values containing SQL metacharacters

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor database performance metrics for unusual query execution times that may indicate time-based blind SQL injection
• Implement alerting for repeated authentication failures or unusual admin account activity
• Track changes to WordPress user tables and privilege modifications
• Enable comprehensive logging for all Schedule plugin interactions
• Conduct periodic security scans to identify SQL injection vulnerabilities across WordPress installations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22523

Immediate Actions Required

• Disable or remove the NotFound Schedule plugin immediately from all WordPress installations
• Audit database access logs for evidence of exploitation or unauthorized data access
• Reset all WordPress user passwords, particularly administrator accounts
• Review and rotate database credentials if compromise is suspected
• Implement a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules

Patch Information

As of the last CVE update on 2025-03-28, the vulnerability affects Schedule plugin version 1.0.0 and there is no patched version currently documented. Organizations should monitor the Patchstack vulnerability database for updates on patch availability. Until a patch is released, complete removal of the vulnerable plugin is recommended.

Workarounds

• Remove or deactivate the Schedule plugin until a security patch is available
• Implement WAF rules to filter SQL injection attempts targeting the plugin
• Restrict access to WordPress admin areas and plugin endpoints using IP allowlisting
• Use a database user with minimal required privileges for WordPress database connections
• Consider migrating to an alternative scheduling plugin that has been security audited

# WordPress CLI commands to deactivate and remove vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate schedule --path=/var/www/html/wordpress
wp plugin delete schedule --path=/var/www/html/wordpress

# Verify plugin removal
wp plugin list --path=/var/www/html/wordpress | grep schedule