CVE-2025-23993: Felan Framework SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2025-23993 Overview

CVE-2025-23993 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the RiceTheme Felan Framework WordPress plugin through version 1.1.3. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands through improperly sanitized user input, potentially leading to complete database compromise.

The Felan Framework plugin, commonly used as a foundation for WordPress themes developed by RiceTheme, fails to properly neutralize special elements used in SQL commands. This improper input validation enables attackers to manipulate database queries and potentially extract, modify, or delete sensitive data stored in the WordPress database.

Critical Impact

This SQL Injection vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the WordPress database, potentially leading to complete site compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized administrative access.

Affected Products

• RiceTheme Felan Framework plugin version 1.1.3 and earlier
• WordPress installations using Felan Framework-based themes
• All configurations where Felan Framework plugin is active

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-08 - CVE-2025-23993 published to NVD
• 2026-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-23993

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands within the Felan Framework plugin. The plugin fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries, creating a classic SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89).

SQL Injection vulnerabilities in WordPress plugins are particularly dangerous because they can bypass WordPress's built-in security mechanisms. Successful exploitation allows attackers to interact directly with the underlying MySQL database, circumventing application-layer access controls entirely.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can exploit it remotely without any prior authentication or user interaction. This significantly expands the potential attack surface to include any WordPress site running the vulnerable plugin versions.

Root Cause

The root cause is the failure to implement proper input sanitization and parameterized queries within the Felan Framework plugin. User-supplied data is concatenated directly into SQL query strings without proper escaping or validation, allowing SQL syntax characters to be interpreted as part of the query structure rather than as literal data values.

WordPress provides the $wpdb->prepare() function specifically to prevent SQL Injection by using prepared statements with placeholders. The vulnerable code in Felan Framework appears to bypass this security mechanism, directly interpolating user input into SQL queries.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable via network access with no authentication required. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing SQL injection payloads targeting vulnerable endpoints within the Felan Framework plugin. The attack requires no user interaction and can be automated for mass exploitation.

Typical SQL injection attack patterns against WordPress plugins include:

• UNION-based injection: Appending UNION SELECT statements to extract data from other database tables, including user credentials stored in wp_users
• Boolean-based blind injection: Using conditional SQL statements to infer database contents character by character
• Time-based blind injection: Employing SQL SLEEP() functions to confirm injection success through response timing
• Stacked queries: Executing multiple SQL statements to perform INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE operations

Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract WordPress administrator credentials, modify content, create rogue admin accounts, or inject malicious code into the database for persistent compromise.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-23993

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages appearing in WordPress debug logs or error pages
• Database entries containing suspicious SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, UNION keywords, or comment sequences
• Unexpected modifications to WordPress user accounts or user metadata
• New administrator accounts created without legitimate authorization
• Suspicious HTTP requests with SQL injection patterns in URL parameters or POST data

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules specifically targeting SQL injection patterns in requests to WordPress plugin endpoints
• Monitor WordPress database logs for anomalous query patterns, including UNION SELECT statements and time-based attack signatures
• Implement file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to WordPress core files, themes, and plugins
• Use SentinelOne's Singularity platform to detect and block exploit attempts targeting known WordPress vulnerabilities
• Configure alerting for any new user account creation, especially accounts with administrative privileges

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the MySQL/MariaDB database server and monitor for suspicious query patterns
• Implement real-time monitoring of WordPress admin activity logs using security plugins
• Configure network-level monitoring to detect patterns consistent with automated SQL injection scanning tools
• Review WordPress user accounts regularly for unauthorized additions or privilege escalations
• Monitor outbound network connections from the web server for potential data exfiltration attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-23993

Immediate Actions Required

• Deactivate the Felan Framework plugin immediately if not essential for site functionality
• Review WordPress user accounts for any unauthorized administrator accounts and remove them
• Change all WordPress user passwords, especially for administrator accounts
• Audit the WordPress database for signs of compromise or data modification
• Implement a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules as an immediate protective measure

Patch Information

At the time of publication, site administrators should check for updates from RiceTheme. Consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Database Entry for the latest patch status and vendor response information.

If no patch is available, consider disabling the plugin entirely or replacing it with a secure alternative. Monitor the WordPress plugin repository and vendor communications for security updates.

Workarounds

• Implement server-level input validation using ModSecurity or similar WAF solutions with OWASP Core Rule Set to block SQL injection attempts
• Restrict access to WordPress admin and plugin endpoints using IP whitelisting where feasible
• Use a security plugin such as Wordfence or Sucuri to add an additional layer of SQL injection protection
• Consider placing the site in maintenance mode if the plugin is essential and no patch is available
• Implement database user privilege restrictions to limit the potential impact of successful SQL injection attacks

# Example ModSecurity rule to help mitigate SQL injection attacks
# Add to your server configuration or .htaccess file
SecRule ARGS "@detectSQLi" \
    "id:1001,\
    phase:2,\
    block,\
    msg:'SQL Injection Attack Detected',\
    logdata:'Matched Data: %{MATCHED_VAR} found within %{MATCHED_VAR_NAME}',\
    severity:'CRITICAL'"