CVE-2025-46248: Frontend Dashboard SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2025-46248 Overview

CVE-2025-46248 is a SQL injection vulnerability in the Frontend Dashboard WordPress plugin developed by M A Vinoth Kumar. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 2.2.5. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands [CWE-89]. Attackers can exploit this issue remotely over the network without authentication or user interaction. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.3 and is classified as Critical. The scope is changed, meaning successful exploitation impacts resources beyond the vulnerable component itself.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can inject arbitrary SQL statements through the Frontend Dashboard plugin, exposing sensitive database content and degrading site availability.

Affected Products

Frontend Dashboard WordPress plugin by M A Vinoth Kumar
All versions from initial release through 2.2.5
WordPress sites with the plugin installed and active

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-24 - CVE-2025-46248 published to NVD
2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-46248

Vulnerability Analysis

The Frontend Dashboard plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This category of flaw, classified under CWE-89, allows attackers to manipulate the structure of database queries executed by the WordPress backend.

The attack vector is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft HTTP requests containing malicious SQL payloads that the plugin passes directly into query construction. The changed scope component indicates that exploitation impacts components beyond the plugin itself, including the underlying WordPress database.

The EPSS score reflects current exploit probability metrics. While no public proof-of-concept has been published at the time of writing, SQL injection flaws in WordPress plugins are routinely weaponized once disclosure occurs.

Root Cause

The root cause is the absence of parameterized queries or input sanitization in the plugin's database interaction logic. User-controllable parameters reach SQL statement construction without escaping through $wpdb->prepare() or equivalent safe APIs. This violates WordPress secure coding guidance for database queries.

Attack Vector

An unauthenticated remote attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to an endpoint exposed by the Frontend Dashboard plugin. The malicious payload terminates the intended SQL clause and appends attacker-controlled SQL. Successful exploitation enables data extraction from the WordPress database, including user credentials, session tokens, and post metadata. The vendor advisory hosted by Patchstack confirms the injection vector.

No verified exploit code is publicly available. See the security advisory for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-46248

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to Frontend Dashboard plugin endpoints containing SQL meta-characters such as ', --, UNION SELECT, or OR 1=1
Unexpected SELECT, UNION, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA queries in MySQL slow query or general logs
Anomalous outbound data transfer from the web server following plugin requests
WordPress users or administrative accounts created without corresponding administrative activity

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for query strings or POST bodies targeting plugin paths under /wp-content/plugins/frontend-dashboard/ with SQL syntax
Enable WordPress debug logging and review wpdb errors that indicate malformed query attempts
Deploy a Web Application Firewall rule set that flags SQL injection signatures against WordPress plugin endpoints
Correlate authentication anomalies against database query spikes within the same session window

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward web server, WordPress, and MySQL logs to a centralized analytics platform for cross-source correlation
Alert on user-agent strings associated with automated scanners such as sqlmap
Monitor for new privileged WordPress users and changes to the wp_users and wp_usermeta tables
Track plugin file integrity and watch for unauthorized changes to the plugin directory

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-46248

Immediate Actions Required

Deactivate the Frontend Dashboard plugin on all affected WordPress sites until a patched version is installed
Restrict access to WordPress administrative and plugin endpoints using IP allowlisting at the web server or WAF layer
Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and invalidate active sessions if exploitation is suspected
Audit the wp_users table for unauthorized accounts and review recent database backups for tampering

Patch Information

At the time of NVD publication, the Frontend Dashboard plugin is vulnerable in all versions through 2.2.5. Site administrators should consult the Patchstack advisory and the WordPress plugin repository for the latest fixed release. Update to the most recent version published after April 2025.

Workarounds

Remove the plugin entirely if a frontend dashboard feature is not required for site operation
Deploy WAF signatures that block SQL injection patterns against wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin REST endpoints
Apply database-layer least privilege so the WordPress database user cannot read or modify tables outside its required scope
Enable virtual patching through services such as Patchstack until a vendor fix is applied

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking common SQLi patterns to plugin paths
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /wp-content/plugins/frontend-dashboard/" \
    "id:1004625,phase:2,deny,status:403,\
    chain,msg:'Block SQLi against Frontend Dashboard plugin'"
    SecRule ARGS "@rx (?i)(union(\s)+select|or\s+1=1|--|information_schema)" "t:none"