CVE-2025-4381: Scripteo Ads Pro SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-4381 Overview

The Ads Pro Plugin - Multi-Purpose WordPress Advertising Manager plugin for WordPress contains a critical SQL Injection vulnerability in the getSpace() function. Due to insufficient escaping on user-supplied parameters and lack of proper SQL query preparation, attackers can inject malicious SQL commands through the $id variable. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 4.89 and allows unauthenticated attackers to extract sensitive information from the WordPress database.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL Injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data including user credentials, personal information, and site configuration data from WordPress databases without requiring any authentication.

Affected Products

• Scripteo Ads Pro plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 4.89

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-02 - CVE-2025-4381 published to NVD
• 2025-07-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-4381

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability exists within the getSpace() function of the Ads Pro Plugin. The root cause is improper handling of user-supplied input to the $id parameter, which is incorporated directly into SQL queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. Because the plugin fails to use prepared statements or properly escape user input, attackers can manipulate the SQL query logic to access unauthorized data.

The vulnerability is particularly severe because it can be exploited without authentication. Any remote attacker with network access to the WordPress site can craft malicious requests to trigger the SQL Injection, potentially extracting the entire contents of the database including wp_users table with password hashes, wp_options containing site secrets, and any custom tables containing sensitive business data.

Root Cause

The vulnerability stems from a classic SQL Injection pattern where the $id variable in the getSpace() function is concatenated directly into SQL queries rather than being passed through parameterized queries or properly escaped. WordPress provides the $wpdb->prepare() method specifically to prevent this type of vulnerability, but the Ads Pro Plugin failed to implement this security control for the affected function.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft HTTP requests to the WordPress installation that include malicious SQL payloads in parameters processed by the getSpace() function. The injected SQL commands are then executed in the context of the database connection, allowing the attacker to perform UNION-based injection, boolean-based blind injection, or time-based blind injection techniques to extract data.

The vulnerability allows attackers to append additional SQL queries to existing ones, enabling data extraction through various SQL Injection techniques. Attackers typically target the WordPress users table to obtain administrator credentials or query for sensitive plugin configuration data.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-4381

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual HTTP requests containing SQL syntax characters (single quotes, UNION, SELECT, etc.) in plugin-related parameters
• Database query logs showing unexpected or malformed queries originating from the Ads Pro Plugin
• Increased database read operations from the web server without corresponding legitimate user activity
• Error logs containing SQL syntax errors that may indicate failed injection attempts

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL Injection patterns in requests targeting WordPress plugins
• Monitor web server access logs for requests containing URL-encoded SQL keywords targeting the Ads Pro Plugin endpoints
• Implement database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns or unauthorized data access attempts
• Use WordPress security plugins to scan for known vulnerable plugin versions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on the WordPress database to capture all queries and identify anomalous patterns
• Configure alerting for high-volume database read operations that could indicate data exfiltration
• Monitor for new admin accounts or privilege changes that could indicate successful exploitation
• Implement file integrity monitoring to detect any unauthorized changes to plugin files

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-4381

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Ads Pro Plugin to a version newer than 4.89 that addresses this vulnerability
• If an immediate update is not possible, temporarily disable the Ads Pro Plugin until a patch can be applied
• Review database access logs for signs of exploitation and assess potential data exposure
• Consider resetting WordPress user passwords, particularly administrator accounts, if exploitation is suspected

Patch Information

The vulnerability affects Ads Pro Plugin versions up to and including 4.89. Site administrators should check for updates through the plugin vendor on CodeCanyon and apply the latest security patches. Additional vulnerability details are available in the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.

Workarounds

• Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL Injection detection rules to block malicious requests
• Restrict access to the WordPress admin and plugin functionality through IP allowlisting where feasible
• Apply the principle of least privilege to the WordPress database user account, limiting write access to only necessary tables
• Consider implementing additional input validation at the web server level through ModSecurity or similar tools