CVE-2025-24728 Overview
CVE-2025-24728 is a blind SQL injection vulnerability in the Yannick Lefebvre Bug Library plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions of bug-library up to and including 2.1.4. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can inject SQL commands through unsanitized parameters processed by the plugin. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.
Successful exploitation enables attackers to read sensitive database contents, manipulate query logic, and pivot toward broader site compromise. The scope is marked as changed, meaning impact extends beyond the vulnerable component to the underlying WordPress database.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can extract arbitrary data from the WordPress database through blind SQL injection, exposing user credentials, session tokens, and configuration secrets.
Affected Products
- Yannick Lefebvre Bug Library plugin for WordPress
- All versions from initial release through 2.1.4
- WordPress sites with the bug-library plugin installed and active
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-01-24 - CVE-2025-24728 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-24728
Vulnerability Analysis
The Bug Library plugin fails to properly neutralize special characters in SQL statements built from user-supplied input. The flaw manifests as a blind SQL injection, meaning responses do not directly return query results. Attackers infer database contents through boolean conditions or time-based payloads observed in HTTP responses.
Exploitation requires an authenticated session with low privileges, lowering the barrier for compromise on multi-user WordPress installations. Once exploited, the attacker can enumerate database schemas, exfiltrate wp_users password hashes, and read secrets stored by other plugins. Because the CVSS scope is changed, the impact reaches resources beyond the plugin itself, including the entire WordPress database.
Root Cause
The root cause is the construction of SQL queries by concatenating attacker-controlled values without using parameterized statements or the WordPress $wpdb->prepare() API. The plugin accepts request parameters and embeds them into SELECT statements without escaping or type casting. This pattern allows injection of additional SQL clauses, including subqueries and conditional expressions used in blind extraction techniques.
Attack Vector
Attacks originate over the network against any WordPress site running the vulnerable plugin. The attacker authenticates as a subscriber-level user or higher and submits crafted parameters to the plugin's endpoints. Payloads such as boolean conditions (AND 1=1, AND 1=2) or time-based functions (SLEEP(), BENCHMARK()) let the attacker enumerate data one bit at a time. Automated tools such as sqlmap can fully extract the database once an injectable parameter is identified. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24728
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual SQL syntax in HTTP request parameters targeting bug-library plugin endpoints, including keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP, or BENCHMARK.
- Repeated authenticated requests to plugin URLs with incrementing or boolean-style payloads characteristic of blind injection enumeration.
- Elevated database query latency correlated with requests to wp-admin or wp-content/plugins/bug-library/ paths.
- New or unexpected administrator accounts created in wp_users following suspicious plugin activity.
Detection Strategies
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule set that inspects authenticated requests to bug-library endpoints for SQL metacharacters and known injection patterns.
- Enable WordPress query logging or database audit logging to capture anomalous SELECT statements referencing information_schema or wp_users.
- Correlate authentication events with subsequent high-volume requests from the same session to identify automated enumeration.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward WordPress access logs and database audit logs to a centralized SIEM for retrospective hunting and alerting.
- Monitor for outbound DNS or HTTP exfiltration channels initiated by the web server process following plugin requests.
- Alert on creation, modification, or privilege changes within the wp_users and wp_usermeta tables.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24728
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate and remove the Bug Library plugin if a patched version is not available for your installation.
- Restrict subscriber and contributor account registration to trusted users until remediation is verified.
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and any API keys stored in the database that may have been exposed.
- Audit wp_users, wp_options, and plugin tables for unauthorized changes.
Patch Information
As of the last NVD update on 2026-04-23, the vulnerability affects Bug Library through version 2.1.4. Site administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest patched release and upgrade guidance.
Workarounds
- Apply a virtual patch through a WAF that blocks SQL metacharacters in requests to bug-library plugin parameters.
- Remove low-privilege accounts that do not require access, since exploitation requires authentication.
- Place the WordPress admin area behind IP allowlisting or multi-factor authentication to limit attacker reach.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
