CVE-2025-31547: Uptime Robot WordPress Plugin SQLi Flaw

CVE-2025-31547 Overview

CVE-2025-31547 is a SQL Injection vulnerability in the Aphotrax Uptime Robot Plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 2.3. Attackers with low-privileged authenticated access can inject malicious SQL statements through unsanitized input parameters processed by the plugin. Successful exploitation enables unauthorized database queries, exposing sensitive WordPress data such as user credentials, session tokens, and configuration secrets. The vulnerability maps to CWE-89, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. Because the scope is changed (S:C), the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component to other resources within the WordPress environment.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can extract or manipulate WordPress database contents through SQL injection, leading to confidentiality loss and partial availability impact across the WordPress instance.

Affected Products

Aphotrax Uptime Robot Plugin for WordPress (slug: uptime-robot-monitor)
All versions from initial release through version 2.3
WordPress sites with the vulnerable plugin installed and activated

Discovery Timeline

2025-03-31 - CVE-2025-31547 published to NVD
2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-31547

Vulnerability Analysis

The Uptime Robot Plugin for WordPress fails to properly neutralize special characters in user-supplied input before incorporating that input into SQL queries. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can submit crafted parameters that break out of the intended query structure. The injected SQL is executed by the WordPress database engine with the privileges of the plugin's database user. The network attack vector and low complexity make exploitation straightforward once authentication is achieved. The EPSS score of 0.16% suggests limited observed exploitation activity at the time of publication.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient input sanitization in plugin code paths that construct SQL queries. The plugin concatenates user-controlled data directly into query strings instead of using parameterized statements or the WordPress $wpdb->prepare() API. This pattern is the canonical CWE-89 weakness and remains common in third-party WordPress plugins.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires an authenticated session with low privilege on the target WordPress site. The attacker submits malicious payloads through plugin endpoints that pass parameters into vulnerable SQL queries. Because the CVSS scope is changed, the injected query can reach data outside the plugin's intended security context. Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for additional context on the affected code paths.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31547

Indicators of Compromise

Web server access logs containing SQL meta-characters such as ', --, UNION SELECT, or SLEEP( in requests to plugin endpoints under /wp-admin/ or /wp-content/plugins/uptime-robot-monitor/
Unexpected database errors in PHP or MySQL logs originating from the plugin
Anomalous read activity against the wp_users or wp_options tables outside normal administrative workflows

Detection Strategies

Deploy a Web Application Firewall rule set tuned to identify SQL injection patterns targeting WordPress plugin parameters
Enable WordPress debug logging and review entries for WordPress database error messages tied to the vulnerable plugin
Audit authenticated user activity for low-privileged accounts issuing requests to plugin admin endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

Centralize WordPress, web server, and database logs in a SIEM and correlate by source IP and authenticated user
Alert on outbound data transfers from the WordPress host that follow suspicious POST requests to the plugin
Monitor for creation of new administrator accounts or modification of the wp_users table following plugin endpoint access

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31547

Immediate Actions Required

Deactivate and remove the Uptime Robot Plugin for WordPress on all affected sites until a patched version is confirmed available
Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and database passwords if exploitation is suspected
Review all low-privilege accounts and disable any that are not required for business operations

Patch Information

No fixed version is identified in the NVD record at the time of publication. The vulnerability affects all versions through 2.3. Monitor the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory and the official WordPress plugin repository for an updated release before reinstalling.

Workarounds

Restrict access to /wp-admin/ paths using IP allow-listing at the web server or reverse proxy layer
Enforce least privilege by limiting plugin-related capabilities to trusted administrative accounts only
Apply WAF virtual patching rules that block SQL meta-characters in requests targeting the plugin

bash

# Example nginx rule restricting plugin endpoint access to trusted IPs
location ~ ^/wp-content/plugins/uptime-robot-monitor/ {
    allow 203.0.113.0/24;
    deny all;
}