CVE-2025-26535: WooCommerce Crypto Gateway SQLi Flaw

CVE-2025-26535 Overview

CVE-2025-26535 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Bitcoin / AltCoin Payment Gateway for WooCommerce WordPress plugin. The vulnerability involves improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, allowing attackers to perform Blind SQL Injection attacks against affected installations.

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command), a well-known weakness that enables attackers to interfere with the queries an application makes to its database.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this Blind SQL Injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data from the WordPress database, potentially compromising customer payment information, user credentials, and other confidential data stored by WooCommerce stores using this cryptocurrency payment gateway.

Affected Products

Bitcoin / AltCoin Payment Gateway for WooCommerce versions through 1.7.6
WordPress sites running vulnerable versions of the woo-altcoin-payment-gateway plugin
WooCommerce multivendor stores utilizing cryptocurrency payment functionality

Discovery Timeline

2025-03-03 - CVE-2025-26535 published to NVD
2025-03-03 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-26535

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability exists in the Bitcoin / AltCoin Payment Gateway for WooCommerce plugin, which provides cryptocurrency payment processing capabilities for WooCommerce-powered online stores. The SQL Injection flaw allows attackers to inject malicious SQL statements into application queries without requiring authentication.

The Blind SQL Injection nature of this vulnerability means that attackers cannot directly see the results of their injected queries, but can infer database contents through time-based or boolean-based techniques. This makes detection more challenging while still allowing complete database compromise over time.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability with no authentication requirements significantly increases the attack surface, as any WordPress site running the vulnerable plugin version can be targeted remotely.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-26535 stems from inadequate input sanitization within the plugin's database query construction. User-supplied input is incorporated into SQL statements without proper parameterization or escaping, allowing attackers to manipulate query logic.

WordPress provides built-in functions like $wpdb->prepare() for safe database queries, but this plugin fails to utilize these protections in affected code paths. This oversight allows malicious SQL syntax to pass through to the database engine.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2025-26535 is network-based, requiring no user interaction or prior authentication. Attackers can craft malicious HTTP requests containing SQL injection payloads targeting vulnerable parameters in the plugin's functionality.

Blind SQL Injection attacks typically proceed through the following phases:

Discovery: Attacker identifies injectable parameters through error-based or behavioral analysis
Enumeration: Using time-based or boolean-based inference, attacker maps database structure
Extraction: Character-by-character extraction of sensitive data including user credentials and payment information
Escalation: Potential upload of web shells or modification of admin accounts if write operations are possible

For detailed technical information, refer to the Patchstack vulnerability advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26535

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual database query patterns or errors in WordPress debug logs
Abnormally slow page load times indicating time-based SQL injection attempts
Unexpected database modifications or new admin accounts
Web application firewall alerts for SQL injection signatures
Suspicious HTTP requests with SQL syntax in URL parameters or POST data

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection payloads
Monitor WordPress and WooCommerce access logs for requests containing SQL metacharacters (', ", --, UNION, SELECT, SLEEP())
Implement database query logging to identify anomalous query patterns
Use WordPress security plugins that provide real-time SQL injection detection

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable WordPress debug logging and regularly review for SQL-related errors
Configure alerts for failed login attempts that may indicate credential harvesting post-exploitation
Monitor database server performance metrics for unusual CPU or I/O patterns
Track changes to WordPress user accounts and privilege levels

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26535

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress installations using the Bitcoin / AltCoin Payment Gateway for WooCommerce plugin
Check the installed plugin version against the vulnerable range (versions through 1.7.6)
If a patched version is available, update immediately; otherwise, consider disabling the plugin
Review WordPress user accounts for unauthorized additions or privilege changes
Audit database for signs of compromise or data exfiltration

Patch Information

Organizations should monitor the plugin's official WordPress repository and the Patchstack vulnerability database for patch release announcements. Ensure automatic WordPress plugin updates are enabled where appropriate, and test updates in staging environments before production deployment.

Workarounds

Implement web application firewall rules to block SQL injection attempts at the network edge
Restrict access to WordPress admin and WooCommerce endpoints using IP allowlisting where feasible
Consider temporarily disabling the vulnerable plugin if cryptocurrency payments are not critical to operations
Deploy WordPress security hardening plugins that provide virtual patching capabilities
Enable WordPress database query logging to detect exploitation attempts

bash

# WordPress configuration hardening example
# Add to wp-config.php to enable query logging for detection

# Enable WordPress debug logging (use only temporarily for monitoring)
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

# Consider implementing database query logging at MySQL level
# In MySQL configuration (my.cnf):
# general_log = 1
# general_log_file = /var/log/mysql/query.log