CVE-2025-31466 Overview
CVE-2025-31466 is a blind SQL injection vulnerability in the Falcon Solutions Duplicate Page and Post WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 1.0. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can inject malicious SQL statements through unsanitized input passed to database queries. Successful exploitation allows attackers to read sensitive database contents and impact site availability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 and carries network attack vector characteristics with a scope change that extends impact beyond the vulnerable component.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can extract sensitive WordPress database contents, including user credentials and configuration data, through blind SQL injection payloads.
Affected Products
- Falcon Solutions Duplicate Page and Post plugin (duplicate-post-and-page)
- All versions from initial release through 1.0
- WordPress installations with the plugin active
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-28 - CVE-2025-31466 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-31466
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands within the Duplicate Page and Post plugin. User-controlled input flows into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. Attackers with at least low-privilege authenticated access on the WordPress site can submit crafted parameters to plugin endpoints.
Because the injection is blind, the application does not return query results directly in responses. Attackers infer database contents through boolean conditions, timing delays, or other observable side effects. The scope change indicates that the injected SQL can affect resources beyond the vulnerable plugin, including the broader WordPress database that contains all site data.
Root Cause
The root cause is the use of unsanitized user input in dynamically constructed SQL statements. The plugin fails to apply WordPress prepared statement helpers such as $wpdb->prepare() or to validate input types before concatenating values into queries. This violates secure coding practices documented under CWE-89.
Attack Vector
The attack requires network access to the WordPress site and a valid authenticated session with low privileges. An attacker submits requests to the plugin's duplication functionality with SQL payloads embedded in expected parameters. The payload triggers conditional database behavior that the attacker observes to reconstruct sensitive data such as the wp_users table contents, including user_pass hashes.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available. Details are documented in the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31466
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual HTTP POST or GET requests to plugin endpoints containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP, BENCHMARK, or boolean operators in parameter values
- Database query logs showing malformed or unusually long queries originating from the plugin's PHP files
- Unexpected response latency on plugin requests, indicating time-based blind injection probing
- Authenticated low-privilege accounts generating high volumes of requests to duplication functionality
Detection Strategies
- Enable WordPress query logging or MySQL general query log to capture suspicious SQL patterns
- Deploy a web application firewall with rules covering OWASP CRS SQL injection signatures
- Review web server access logs for plugin URLs combined with URL-encoded SQL metacharacters such as %27, %22, and --
- Correlate authentication events with anomalous plugin request patterns to identify compromised low-privilege accounts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on database errors emitted by WordPress that reference the plugin's query context
- Track outbound data volume from the WordPress host to detect bulk data extraction
- Monitor user role assignments and new administrator accounts for signs of post-exploitation privilege escalation
- Baseline normal request rates to plugin endpoints and trigger alerts on deviations
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31466
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate and remove the Duplicate Page and Post plugin until a fixed version is confirmed installed
- Audit all WordPress user accounts and rotate credentials for accounts with publishing privileges
- Review database contents and recent WordPress activity logs for signs of unauthorized SELECT activity
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ paths by IP address where operationally feasible
Patch Information
No vendor-supplied patch beyond version 1.0 is referenced in the available advisory. Administrators should consult the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest remediation status and replace the plugin with a maintained alternative if no fix is published.
Workarounds
- Remove the plugin entirely and use built-in WordPress duplication alternatives or a maintained equivalent
- Apply virtual patching through a web application firewall to block SQL injection patterns against plugin URLs
- Restrict the Contributor, Author, and Editor roles from accessing the plugin's duplication endpoints through capability filtering
- Enforce least privilege on the WordPress database account by limiting unnecessary permissions on non-WordPress schemas
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
