CVE-2025-22533: WOOEXIM WordPress Plugin SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-22533 Overview

CVE-2025-22533 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the WOOEXIM WordPress plugin developed by bulktheme. The flaw exists due to improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands [CWE-89]. Attackers with high privileges can inject malicious SQL statements through vulnerable input parameters. The issue affects all versions of WOOEXIM up to and including 5.0.0. Successful exploitation leads to confidentiality compromise and limited availability impact on the underlying database.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the WordPress database, exposing sensitive data and potentially disrupting site availability.

Affected Products

• WOOEXIM WordPress plugin versions through 5.0.0
• bulktheme WOOEXIM (wooexim) — all versions up to and including 5.0.0
• WordPress installations with the vulnerable plugin enabled

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-01-07 - CVE-2025-22533 published to NVD
• 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-22533

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the WOOEXIM plugin's handling of user-supplied input within SQL query construction. The plugin fails to properly sanitize or parameterize special characters before concatenating them into database queries. An attacker with high-privilege access to the WordPress installation can craft input that breaks out of the intended query context.

Exploitation occurs over the network without user interaction. The scope is changed, meaning the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component to affect other resources within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability carries a CWE-89 classification for SQL Injection.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements within SQL commands. The WOOEXIM plugin builds queries by appending user-controlled values directly into SQL statements without prepared statements or input validation. This pattern violates secure coding practices documented in OWASP guidance for database access layers.

Attack Vector

An authenticated attacker sends crafted HTTP requests containing SQL metacharacters to the vulnerable plugin endpoint. The injected payload modifies the resulting database query, allowing the attacker to read arbitrary table contents or trigger errors that disrupt service. Because the attack requires high privileges, exploitation typically follows initial compromise of an administrative or elevated WordPress account. Refer to the Patchstack WooExim SQL Injection Vulnerability advisory for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22533

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected SQL syntax errors in WordPress or web server logs originating from WOOEXIM plugin endpoints
• HTTP requests containing SQL metacharacters such as UNION, SELECT, --, or ' targeting plugin parameters
• Unusual database queries originating from the WordPress application user against tables outside the plugin's normal scope

Detection Strategies

• Inspect web server access logs for requests to WOOEXIM plugin URLs containing encoded SQL payloads
• Enable WordPress audit logging to capture privileged user actions on import/export functionality
• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection signatures in front of WordPress installations

Monitoring Recommendations

• Continuously monitor database query patterns for anomalous statements issued by the WordPress service account
• Alert on authentication events for high-privilege WordPress accounts followed by plugin endpoint activity
• Centralize WordPress, web server, and database logs in a SIEM platform to correlate injection attempts across layers

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22533

Immediate Actions Required

• Disable the WOOEXIM plugin until a patched version is installed
• Audit WordPress administrator and editor accounts and rotate credentials for any account that may have been compromised
• Restrict access to the WordPress admin interface using IP allowlisting or VPN-only access
• Review database logs for evidence of prior exploitation against the WOOEXIM plugin

Patch Information

No fixed version has been published in the available advisory data. Administrators should monitor the Patchstack WooExim SQL Injection Vulnerability advisory and the WordPress plugin repository for an updated release beyond version 5.0.0.

Workarounds

• Remove the WOOEXIM plugin from production WordPress installations until a vendor patch is available
• Apply WAF rules that block common SQL injection payloads targeting WordPress plugin endpoints
• Enforce the principle of least privilege for WordPress accounts to reduce the population of users who meet the high-privilege exploitation requirement
• Apply database-level controls that limit the WordPress service account to required tables and operations