CVE-2025-30774: Ays-pro Quiz Maker SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-30774 Overview

CVE-2025-30774 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Ays Pro Quiz Maker plugin for WordPress. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL queries. This flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to interact directly with the underlying database, potentially leading to data exfiltration, unauthorized modification, or complete database compromise.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data from WordPress databases, modify content, or potentially gain administrative access to affected websites.

Affected Products

• Ays Pro Quiz Maker for WordPress versions up to and including 6.6.8.7

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-04-01 - CVE-2025-30774 published to NVD
• 2025-12-31 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-30774

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the Quiz Maker WordPress plugin developed by Ays Pro. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate SQL queries executed by the plugin through specially crafted input. Since no authentication is required to exploit this flaw, any internet-connected attacker can target vulnerable WordPress installations running the affected plugin versions.

The unauthenticated nature of this vulnerability significantly increases its risk profile, as attackers do not need valid credentials or any prior access to the target system to launch an attack. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to the entire WordPress database, including user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data stored within the CMS.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the failure to properly sanitize and parameterize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. The Quiz Maker plugin does not adequately validate or escape special characters in user input, allowing malicious SQL syntax to be interpreted as part of the database query rather than as data.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires no user interaction or authentication. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing SQL injection payloads directed at vulnerable endpoints within the Quiz Maker plugin. The plugin processes these requests and incorporates the malicious input directly into database queries without proper sanitization.

Common exploitation techniques include:

• Union-based SQL injection to extract data from other database tables
• Boolean-based blind SQL injection to infer database contents
• Time-based blind SQL injection using database sleep functions
• Stacked queries to execute multiple SQL statements

For detailed technical analysis of this vulnerability, refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-30774

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database queries in MySQL slow query logs or general logs containing SQL injection patterns such as UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, or WAITFOR DELAY
• Web server access logs showing requests to Quiz Maker plugin endpoints with encoded special characters or SQL syntax
• Unexpected changes to database content, user accounts, or plugin settings
• New administrator accounts appearing without legitimate creation

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns in requests targeting WordPress plugins
• Enable database query logging and monitor for anomalous query patterns or unauthorized data access
• Implement file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized changes to plugin files
• Use WordPress security plugins that provide real-time threat detection and vulnerability scanning

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor WordPress access logs for suspicious requests containing SQL injection payloads targeting /wp-content/plugins/quiz-maker/ paths
• Configure alerts for database errors or exceptions that may indicate SQL injection attempts
• Review WordPress user account activity for signs of unauthorized access or privilege escalation
• Regularly audit database query logs for patterns indicative of data exfiltration attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-30774

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Ays Pro Quiz Maker plugin to the latest patched version immediately
• Review WordPress access logs for signs of exploitation attempts
• Audit database contents for unauthorized modifications or data extraction
• Reset credentials for all WordPress users, especially administrators, if compromise is suspected

Patch Information

WordPress administrators should update the Quiz Maker plugin to a version newer than 6.6.8.7 through the WordPress admin dashboard or by downloading the latest release from the official plugin repository. The Patchstack vulnerability database provides additional details on the fix.

Workarounds

• If immediate patching is not possible, consider temporarily deactivating the Quiz Maker plugin until an update can be applied
• Implement WAF rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting the Quiz Maker plugin endpoints
• Restrict access to the WordPress admin area using IP allowlisting
• Enable prepared statements enforcement at the database level where supported

# Example: Temporarily disable the Quiz Maker plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate quiz-maker --path=/var/www/html/wordpress

# Verify plugin status
wp plugin list --path=/var/www/html/wordpress | grep quiz-maker