CVE-2025-23993 Overview
CVE-2025-23993 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the RiceTheme Felan Framework WordPress plugin. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. All versions of the felan-framework plugin up to and including 1.1.3 are affected. An unauthenticated remote attacker can inject malicious SQL statements through vulnerable input handling. Exploitation requires no privileges and no user interaction over the network.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can extract sensitive database contents and disrupt application availability through crafted SQL payloads against affected WordPress installations.
Affected Products
- RiceTheme Felan Framework plugin versions through 1.1.3
- WordPress sites with the felan-framework plugin installed
- Any deployment of Felan Framework prior to the patched release
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-01-08 - CVE-2025-23993 published to NVD
- 2026-04-27 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-23993
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Felan Framework plugin's handling of user-supplied input within SQL query construction. The plugin fails to sanitize or parameterize input before passing it to database query functions. Attackers can therefore inject crafted SQL fragments that alter the intended query logic.
The issue is classified under [CWE-89] Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. Exploitation is possible over the network without authentication and without user interaction. The scope is changed, meaning successful exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component.
The primary impact is confidentiality loss through data exfiltration. Attackers can read arbitrary tables, including WordPress user records, password hashes, and session tokens. Limited availability impact is also possible through resource-intensive query payloads.
Root Cause
The root cause is the construction of SQL statements through direct string concatenation of untrusted parameters. The plugin does not use prepared statements or the WordPress $wpdb->prepare() API consistently across affected code paths. As a result, special characters such as single quotes and SQL keywords pass into the query interpreter unchanged.
Attack Vector
An attacker sends an HTTP request to a vulnerable endpoint exposed by the Felan Framework plugin. The request contains SQL metacharacters within a parameter consumed by an unsanitized query. The database server then executes the attacker-controlled SQL. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for endpoint-level details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-23993
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to Felan Framework plugin endpoints containing SQL metacharacters such as UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, OR 1=1, or encoded variants.
- Unusual outbound database query patterns, including queries against wp_users or wp_options from plugin contexts that normally do not touch those tables.
- Web server access logs showing repeated parameter probing against /wp-content/plugins/felan-framework/ paths.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that inspect query strings and POST bodies for SQL injection signatures targeting the plugin.
- Enable MySQL general query logging temporarily to identify malformed or attacker-controlled queries originating from the plugin.
- Correlate WordPress audit logs with HTTP request logs to detect anomalous data access patterns following plugin requests.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor authentication tables for unexpected reads or modifications.
- Alert on HTTP 500 responses from plugin endpoints, which often indicate failed injection attempts.
- Track outbound traffic for large response payloads suggesting bulk data exfiltration.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-23993
Immediate Actions Required
- Disable the Felan Framework plugin until an updated, patched version is installed.
- Restrict access to WordPress admin and plugin endpoints by source IP where feasible.
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and database passwords if exploitation is suspected.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the vulnerability affects Felan Framework versions through 1.1.3. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report and the vendor for the fixed release and upgrade as soon as it is available.
Workarounds
- Apply WAF virtual patching to block SQL injection patterns against felan-framework request paths.
- Enforce least-privilege on the WordPress database user to limit query scope and reduce exfiltration impact.
- Remove the plugin entirely if it is not essential to site functionality.
# Configuration example: disable plugin via WP-CLI until patched
wp plugin deactivate felan-framework
wp plugin status felan-framework
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
