CVE-2025-49267 Overview
CVE-2025-49267 is a blind SQL injection vulnerability in the Frontend Admin by DynamiApps WordPress plugin, developed by Shabti Kaplan. The flaw affects all versions of the acf-frontend-form-element plugin up to and including 3.28.3. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands [CWE-89]. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can inject SQL statements through unsanitized inputs and infer database contents via blind techniques. The issue carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.5 due to its scope change and confidentiality impact.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can extract sensitive WordPress database contents, including user credentials and configuration secrets, through blind SQL injection across security boundaries.
Affected Products
- Frontend Admin by DynamiApps (acf-frontend-form-element) versions through 3.28.3
- WordPress installations using the vulnerable plugin
- Sites exposing form submission endpoints to authenticated users
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-08-14 - CVE-2025-49267 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-49267
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Frontend Admin by DynamiApps plugin, which allows WordPress administrators to build frontend forms for content management. User-supplied input reaches SQL query construction without sufficient sanitization or parameterization. Attackers craft payloads that alter the structure of executed SQL statements against the WordPress database.
Because this is a blind SQL injection, the server does not return query results directly. Attackers infer data using boolean-based or time-based techniques. The scope change indicates that successful exploitation impacts resources beyond the vulnerable component, including other database tables shared with the WordPress core.
The EPSS probability is 0.251%, placing the vulnerability in the 16th percentile for predicted exploitation activity. No public proof-of-concept exploit has been confirmed at the time of publication.
Root Cause
The root cause is the failure to apply $wpdb->prepare() or equivalent parameterized query mechanisms when processing user input within plugin database operations. Special characters such as single quotes, semicolons, and SQL keywords pass directly into query strings. This allows attackers to break out of intended query context and append arbitrary SQL clauses.
Attack Vector
The attack requires network access and low-privilege authenticated credentials on the target WordPress site. An attacker submits crafted parameters to a vulnerable plugin endpoint that processes frontend form data. The injected SQL payload executes within the database session, enabling the attacker to enumerate tables, extract user hashes, or read plugin secrets. User interaction is not required for exploitation.
The vulnerability mechanism is described in the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory. No verified exploit code is publicly available.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49267
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual SELECT, UNION, SLEEP, or BENCHMARK patterns in web server access logs targeting plugin endpoints
- Spikes in slow database responses correlated with requests to acf-frontend-form-element paths
- Authenticated POST requests containing encoded SQL meta-characters such as %27, --, or 0x literals
- Database query errors in PHP or MySQL logs originating from plugin functions
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WordPress access logs for repeated requests to plugin AJAX or REST endpoints with anomalous query parameters
- Deploy web application firewall rules tuned for SQL injection signatures against /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin routes
- Monitor MySQL general_log or slow query log for malformed statements referencing WordPress tables in unexpected contexts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable verbose logging on the WordPress database layer to capture queries containing injection markers
- Alert on authenticated low-privilege accounts generating high volumes of form submissions in short windows
- Correlate plugin-related HTTP traffic with database error rates to identify blind injection probing
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49267
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Frontend Admin by DynamiApps plugin to a version newer than 3.28.3 once the vendor publishes a patched release
- Audit WordPress user accounts and remove unused or unnecessary low-privilege accounts
- Rotate database credentials, WordPress salts, and administrator passwords if exploitation is suspected
- Restrict plugin form endpoints to trusted users via access control rules where feasible
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the advisory indicates the vulnerability affects versions up to and including 3.28.3. Administrators should consult the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for the latest fixed version information and apply the vendor update through the WordPress plugin manager.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the acf-frontend-form-element plugin until a patched version is installed
- Deploy a web application firewall with SQL injection rules in blocking mode for WordPress traffic
- Limit authenticated users from accessing frontend form submission endpoints through role-based restrictions
- Apply principle of least privilege to the database user configured in wp-config.php to reduce exploitation impact
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
