CVE-2025-52714: Traveler WordPress Plugin SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-52714 Overview

CVE-2025-52714 is an SQL injection vulnerability affecting the shinetheme Traveler WordPress theme through version 3.2.2. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, classified under [CWE-89]. Unauthenticated attackers can inject malicious SQL statements over the network without user interaction. Successful exploitation allows attackers to read sensitive database contents and impact backend availability. The vulnerability carries a scope-changed impact, meaning it can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component itself.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated remote attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the WordPress database, exposing booking records, customer data, and credentials stored within affected Traveler theme installations.

Affected Products

shinetheme Traveler WordPress theme — all versions through 3.2.2
WordPress sites running the Traveler theme for travel and booking functionality
Third-party plugins or integrations relying on Traveler theme database queries

Discovery Timeline

2025-07-16 - CVE-2025-52714 published to NVD
2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-52714

Vulnerability Analysis

The Traveler theme fails to properly sanitize or parameterize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query context and append arbitrary SQL clauses. The vulnerability is network-reachable, requires no authentication, and demands no user interaction, making it suitable for opportunistic mass scanning. The scope-changed designation indicates that exploitation can affect database resources beyond the WordPress application context.

Traveler is a commercial booking theme used by travel agencies, tour operators, and hotel sites. Compromised instances typically expose customer personally identifiable information (PII), payment metadata, and administrator account hashes. The current EPSS score is 0.232%, placing this vulnerability in the 46th percentile for exploitation likelihood.

Root Cause

The root cause is the direct concatenation of unsanitized request parameters into SQL statements rather than the use of prepared statements with parameter binding. WordPress provides the $wpdb->prepare() API for safe query construction, but the affected theme code paths bypass this protection. Patchstack's advisory identifies the issue as classic SQL injection within theme-supplied PHP handlers.

Attack Vector

Attackers craft HTTP requests containing SQL metacharacters in vulnerable parameters processed by the Traveler theme. Because no authentication is required, exploitation can be performed by any internet-based attacker who can reach the WordPress site. Common attack patterns include UNION-based extraction, boolean-blind enumeration, and time-based blind injection. Refer to the Patchstack WordPress SQL Injection Advisory for technical specifics on the affected endpoints.

No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. The vulnerability mechanism follows the standard pattern of tainted request input flowing into a dynamically constructed SQL statement.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-52714

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests containing SQL keywords such as UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, BENCHMARK(, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA targeting Traveler theme endpoints
Anomalous outbound database errors or HTTP 500 responses correlated with crafted query parameters
Unexpected new administrator accounts or modified wp_users entries following suspicious requests
Web server access logs showing repeated requests with encoded SQL payloads (URL-encoded quotes, comment sequences --, /*)

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that match OWASP CRS SQL injection signatures against requests targeting Traveler theme paths
Enable MySQL general query logging temporarily and review for queries containing tautologies such as OR 1=1 or stacked statements
Correlate WordPress audit logs with web access logs to identify privilege changes following anomalous requests

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor for spikes in 500-series HTTP responses from /wp-content/themes/traveler/ paths
Alert on database query latency anomalies that may indicate time-based blind injection
Track outbound data transfer volumes from the database server for signs of bulk extraction

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-52714

Immediate Actions Required

Identify all WordPress sites running the Traveler theme and confirm the installed version
Update the Traveler theme to a version newer than 3.2.2 as released by shinetheme
Rotate WordPress administrator passwords, database credentials, and any API keys stored in the database
Review wp_users and wp_options for unauthorized modifications and audit recent administrative actions

Patch Information

shinetheme has addressed the vulnerability in versions released after 3.2.2. Site administrators should consult the Patchstack WordPress SQL Injection Advisory for the specific fixed version and apply the update through the WordPress dashboard or by replacing theme files directly.

Workarounds

Deploy a WAF with SQL injection signatures in blocking mode in front of affected WordPress instances
Restrict access to vulnerable theme endpoints via web server rules until the patch is applied
Apply database-level least privilege so the WordPress database user cannot read tables outside its required scope
Enable Patchstack or an equivalent virtual patching service that ships mitigation rules for known WordPress theme vulnerabilities

bash

# Example nginx rule to block common SQLi payloads against Traveler theme paths
location ~* /wp-content/themes/traveler/ {
    if ($args ~* "(union.*select|sleep\(|benchmark\(|information_schema|--\s|/\*)") {
        return 403;
    }
}