CVE-2025-31551 Overview
CVE-2025-31551 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Salesmate Add-On for Gravity Forms WordPress plugin. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, allowing unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious SQL queries through network-accessible vectors. This flaw enables potential unauthorized access to sensitive database contents and could lead to data exfiltration or service disruption.
Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL Injection vulnerability to access, extract, or manipulate sensitive data stored in WordPress databases, potentially compromising entire site installations.
Affected Products
- Salesmate Add-On for Gravity Forms versions from n/a through 2.0.3
- WordPress installations using the vulnerable plugin versions
- Sites integrating Salesmate.io CRM with Gravity Forms
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-01 - CVE-2025-31551 published to NVD
- 2025-04-02 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-31551
Vulnerability Analysis
This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the Salesmate Add-On for Gravity Forms plugin, a WordPress extension that integrates Salesmate CRM functionality with Gravity Forms. The vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate SQL queries executed by the plugin, potentially gaining unauthorized access to the underlying WordPress database.
The network-based attack vector requires no authentication or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for exposed WordPress installations. The scope is changed, meaning successful exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component itself. While the vulnerability primarily impacts confidentiality with high severity, it also presents a low-level availability impact that could disrupt normal database operations.
Root Cause
The root cause of this vulnerability is insufficient input sanitization and improper neutralization of user-supplied data before it is incorporated into SQL queries. The plugin fails to properly validate, escape, or parameterize user input, allowing specially crafted input to break out of the intended SQL context and execute arbitrary database commands.
Attack Vector
The attack can be executed remotely over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious requests containing SQL injection payloads that target the vulnerable plugin endpoints. When the plugin processes these requests, the malicious SQL code is executed against the WordPress database, potentially exposing sensitive information such as user credentials, form submissions, or other confidential data stored in the database.
The vulnerability manifests in the plugin's data handling routines where user-controllable input is concatenated directly into SQL statements. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the Patchstack Security Advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-31551
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual database queries or errors in WordPress/MySQL logs indicating SQL injection attempts
- Unexpected database access patterns, particularly targeting wp_options, wp_users, or form submission tables
- Web server logs containing suspicious URL parameters with SQL syntax (e.g., UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, comment sequences)
- Unexplained changes to database records or new administrator accounts
Detection Strategies
- Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns targeting WordPress plugins
- Monitor application logs for error messages indicating SQL syntax errors or failed queries
- Deploy intrusion detection systems with signatures for SQL injection attack patterns
- Review access logs for requests to Gravity Forms and Salesmate plugin endpoints containing suspicious characters
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable detailed MySQL query logging to capture potential exploitation attempts
- Set up alerts for unusual database query volumes or patterns from web application users
- Monitor for data exfiltration indicators such as large database exports or unusual outbound traffic
- Implement file integrity monitoring on WordPress plugin directories to detect unauthorized modifications
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-31551
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Salesmate Add-On for Gravity Forms plugin to the latest patched version immediately
- If a patch is not yet available, temporarily deactivate the plugin until a fix is released
- Review database logs for signs of prior exploitation
- Audit WordPress administrator accounts for any unauthorized additions
- Consider implementing IP-based access restrictions to the WordPress admin area
Patch Information
Organizations should monitor the WordPress plugin repository and the Patchstack Security Advisory for updated versions of the Salesmate Add-On for Gravity Forms that address this vulnerability. All installations running version 2.0.3 or earlier should be considered vulnerable and require immediate attention.
Workarounds
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules in front of the WordPress installation
- Temporarily disable the Salesmate Add-On for Gravity Forms plugin if it is not business-critical
- Implement database user privilege restrictions to limit the impact of potential SQL injection attacks
- Use WordPress security plugins that provide SQL injection filtering capabilities
# Example: Disable vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate gf-salesmate-add-on --path=/var/www/html/wordpress
# Example: Check installed plugin version
wp plugin list --path=/var/www/html/wordpress | grep salesmate
# Example: Update plugin when patch is available
wp plugin update gf-salesmate-add-on --path=/var/www/html/wordpress
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
