CVE-2025-47545: Ays-pro Poll Maker Race Condition Flaw

CVE-2025-47545 Overview

A race condition vulnerability exists in the Ays Pro Poll Maker WordPress plugin that allows attackers to leverage concurrent execution using shared resources with improper synchronization. This vulnerability affects Poll Maker versions through 5.7.7 and can be exploited remotely without authentication.

Critical Impact

This race condition vulnerability could allow attackers to manipulate poll results, bypass security controls, or cause data integrity issues by exploiting timing windows in concurrent operations.

Affected Products

• Ays Pro Poll Maker plugin for WordPress versions through 5.7.7
• WordPress installations using the free version of Poll Maker (poll-maker)

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-05-07 - CVE-2025-47545 published to NVD
• 2026-04-01 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-47545

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-362 (Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization), commonly known as a race condition. The Poll Maker plugin fails to properly synchronize access to shared resources when handling concurrent requests, creating exploitable timing windows.

Race conditions in web applications typically occur when multiple processes or threads access shared data simultaneously without proper locking mechanisms. In the context of a WordPress poll plugin, this could manifest in vote counting operations, user session handling, or database transactions where the application reads a value, performs calculations, and writes results back without ensuring atomicity.

The attack requires network access and involves exploiting the narrow window between when a resource is checked and when it is used (Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use or TOCTOU pattern). While the attack complexity is higher due to the timing precision required, no privileges or user interaction are needed to exploit this vulnerability.

Root Cause

The root cause stems from improper synchronization mechanisms in the Poll Maker plugin when handling concurrent requests to shared resources. The plugin likely lacks proper database locking, mutex implementations, or atomic operations when processing poll-related data, allowing race conditions to occur during simultaneous access.

Attack Vector

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft multiple simultaneous HTTP requests targeting the vulnerable endpoint to exploit the race condition. The timing-sensitive nature of the attack means that while exploitation requires precise timing, automated tools can significantly increase success rates by sending high volumes of concurrent requests.

The attack scenario typically involves:

1. Identifying the vulnerable endpoint in the Poll Maker plugin
2. Sending multiple concurrent requests designed to trigger the race condition
3. Exploiting the timing window to manipulate shared state or bypass intended restrictions

For detailed technical analysis, refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-47545

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual spikes in concurrent requests to Poll Maker plugin endpoints
• Anomalous poll voting patterns or vote count discrepancies
• Database transaction errors or deadlock warnings in WordPress logs
• Multiple rapid requests from the same IP address targeting poll functionality

Detection Strategies

• Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect rapid concurrent requests to poll endpoints
• Monitor server access logs for patterns of simultaneous requests from single sources
• Review WordPress debug logs for race condition indicators such as duplicate key errors or transaction failures
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions to identify automated exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the Poll Maker plugin and WordPress core
• Set up alerts for abnormal traffic patterns targeting /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with poll-related actions
• Monitor database performance metrics for signs of lock contention or transaction conflicts
• Implement rate limiting on poll-related endpoints to reduce exploitation success rates

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-47545

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Ays Pro Poll Maker plugin to a patched version as soon as one becomes available
• Implement rate limiting on poll submission endpoints to reduce concurrent request volume
• Consider temporarily disabling the Poll Maker plugin if immediate patching is not possible
• Review recent poll activity for signs of exploitation or data manipulation

Patch Information

The vulnerability affects Poll Maker versions through 5.7.7. Check the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for the latest patch information and remediation guidance from the vendor.

Workarounds

• Implement server-level rate limiting for poll-related AJAX endpoints
• Use a WordPress security plugin to add additional request throttling
• Consider using a CDN or reverse proxy with built-in rate limiting capabilities
• Restrict access to poll functionality to authenticated users only if feasible

# Example: Rate limiting configuration for nginx
# Add to server block to limit concurrent connections to WordPress AJAX
limit_req_zone $binary_remote_addr zone=poll_limit:10m rate=5r/s;

location ~ ^/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php {
    limit_req zone=poll_limit burst=10 nodelay;
    # ... other configuration
}