CVE-2025-22700: Traveler Code SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2025-22700 Overview

CVE-2025-22700 is a SQL injection vulnerability in the shinetheme Traveler Code plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 3.1.2, and stems from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands [CWE-89]. An authenticated attacker holding only Subscriber-level privileges can inject arbitrary SQL into queries executed by the plugin. Successful exploitation exposes database contents, allows data tampering, and can disrupt site availability.

Critical Impact
Authenticated Subscriber-level users can execute arbitrary SQL statements against the WordPress database, leading to disclosure of credentials, manipulation of records, and potential site compromise.

Affected Products

shinetheme Traveler Code WordPress plugin versions through 3.1.2
WordPress sites with the Traveler Code plugin installed and activated
Deployments allowing public user registration at the Subscriber role

Discovery Timeline

2025-02-04 - CVE-2025-22700 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-22700

Vulnerability Analysis

The Traveler Code plugin exposes a code path reachable by authenticated users that concatenates request-supplied input into a SQL query without proper sanitization or parameterization. Because WordPress assigns the Subscriber role to any registered user, the attack surface is effectively any account on a site that permits self-registration. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-89] Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. The Patchstack advisory characterizes the issue as arbitrary SQL execution, meaning the attacker controls the structure of the resulting query rather than only its data values.

The issue carries a scope change indicator, reflecting that successful exploitation reaches resources beyond the vulnerable component. In WordPress, this typically means the entire site database, including the wp_users and wp_options tables, becomes accessible to the attacker. Read, write, and integrity impacts are all in scope, so attackers can extract hashed credentials, modify content, or drop tables.

Root Cause

The plugin builds SQL statements by interpolating user-controlled parameters directly into query strings. WordPress provides the $wpdb->prepare() method for parameterized queries, but the affected code paths bypass this safeguard. As a result, characters such as single quotes, comments, and UNION operators retain their SQL semantics when sent to the database engine.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires the attacker to authenticate as a Subscriber, then issue a crafted HTTP request to the vulnerable plugin endpoint. The request includes SQL payloads in parameters that the plugin embeds in its database query. Typical payloads use UNION SELECT clauses to exfiltrate data or time-based techniques such as SLEEP() to confirm blind injection. The attack does not require user interaction, but the high attack complexity reflects that the attacker must understand the plugin's query structure to produce a working payload. Detailed indicators are documented in the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-22700

Indicators of Compromise

Authenticated POST or GET requests from Subscriber accounts to Traveler Code plugin endpoints containing SQL meta-characters such as ', --, UNION, or SLEEP(
Unexpected wp_users reads or new administrator accounts created shortly after Subscriber logins
Database error messages in PHP logs referencing the plugin's query functions
Abnormal response times on plugin endpoints, indicating time-based blind SQL injection probing

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for plugin URLs paired with URL-encoded SQL syntax originating from low-privilege sessions
Enable MySQL general query logging temporarily to capture queries containing concatenated user input from the plugin
Deploy a Web Application Firewall rule set, such as OWASP ModSecurity Core Rule Set, with SQL injection signatures enabled

Monitoring Recommendations

Alert on creation of new WordPress accounts with elevated roles outside change windows
Track failed and successful logins from newly registered Subscriber accounts that immediately access plugin endpoints
Forward WordPress, PHP-FPM, and database logs to a centralized analytics platform for correlation against plugin activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-22700

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Traveler Code plugin to a version later than 3.1.2 as soon as the vendor publishes a fixed release
Disable or remove the plugin if a patched version is not yet available for your installation
Disable open user registration, or restrict the Subscriber role to trusted users only
Rotate WordPress administrator passwords and any database credentials that may have been exposed

Patch Information

Review the Patchstack Vulnerability Advisory for vendor remediation status. Apply the vendor-supplied update through the WordPress plugin management interface, then verify the installed version is greater than 3.1.2. Audit user accounts, posts, and options tables for unauthorized changes before returning the site to production.

Workarounds

Place a Web Application Firewall in front of the WordPress site and enable rules that block SQL injection payloads targeting plugin endpoints
Remove the Subscriber registration capability by setting Anyone can register to disabled in WordPress general settings
Restrict database user privileges so the WordPress account cannot execute DROP, ALTER, or FILE operations

bash

# Disable open registration and enforce least-privilege database access
wp option update users_can_register 0

# Grant only required privileges to the WordPress database user
mysql -u root -p -e "REVOKE ALL PRIVILEGES ON wordpress.* FROM 'wp_user'@'localhost'; \
  GRANT SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE ON wordpress.* TO 'wp_user'@'localhost'; \
  FLUSH PRIVILEGES;"