CVE-2025-52822: WP Roadmap SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2025-52822 Overview

CVE-2025-52822 is a SQL Injection vulnerability in the Iqonic Design WP Roadmap plugin for WordPress. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands [CWE-89]. Affected versions include WP Roadmap through 2.1.3. An authenticated attacker with low-level privileges can inject arbitrary SQL statements through the plugin over the network. Successful exploitation leads to confidentiality impact across a changed security scope and limited availability impact. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.5 and is tracked under EPSS at 0.179% (39.234 percentile).

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the WordPress database, exposing sensitive data including credentials, session tokens, and personally identifiable information stored in WordPress tables.

Affected Products

Iqonic Design WP Roadmap plugin for WordPress
WP Roadmap versions through 2.1.3
WordPress sites using the wp-roadmap plugin with feedback or roadmap features enabled

Discovery Timeline

2025-06-20 - CVE-2025-52822 published to NVD
2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-52822

Vulnerability Analysis

The WP Roadmap plugin fails to sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries executed against the WordPress database. This classifies as Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command [CWE-89]. The scope is marked as changed, indicating the vulnerable component can affect resources beyond its own security authority. An attacker only requires low privileges, such as a subscriber-level WordPress account, to reach the affected code path. No user interaction is required, and the attack is performed over the network against the WordPress administrative or REST API endpoints exposed by the plugin.

Root Cause

The root cause is the use of unsanitized user input concatenated into SQL queries without parameterized statements or proper escaping through WordPress functions such as $wpdb->prepare(). The plugin accepts attacker-controlled values through plugin parameters and passes them directly into database queries. Standard WordPress security primitives like esc_sql() or prepared statements are missing or improperly applied in the vulnerable code paths within wp-roadmap.

Attack Vector

An authenticated user submits crafted input containing SQL metacharacters to a vulnerable plugin endpoint. The plugin embeds the input into a SQL statement, allowing the attacker to alter query structure. The attacker can extract data using UNION-based or boolean-based blind techniques, enumerate WordPress users and password hashes from wp_users, or read option values such as wp_options that may contain API keys and secrets. See the Patchstack WP Roadmap Vulnerability Advisory for additional technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-52822

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to WP Roadmap plugin endpoints containing SQL metacharacters such as ', UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, --, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA
Anomalous database query patterns or query execution time spikes correlated with requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php actions registered by wp-roadmap
Unexpected outbound traffic from the WordPress host following requests to wp-roadmap endpoints
New or modified administrator accounts created shortly after suspicious plugin requests

Detection Strategies

Inspect WordPress access logs for POST or GET parameters targeting wp-roadmap actions that include SQL syntax tokens
Enable WordPress debug logging or MySQL general query log temporarily to identify malformed queries originating from the plugin
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) ruleset that flags SQL injection patterns against /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin-specific URIs

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor authentication events for low-privilege accounts performing repeated requests to plugin endpoints
Alert on database errors recorded in wp-content/debug.log referencing wp-roadmap functions
Track plugin version inventory across WordPress sites to identify hosts still running WP Roadmap 2.1.3 or earlier

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-52822

Immediate Actions Required

Update WP Roadmap to a version newer than 2.1.3 as soon as the vendor publishes a patched release
If no patched version is available, deactivate and remove the wp-roadmap plugin from affected WordPress installations
Audit existing WordPress user accounts and rotate credentials, API keys, and secrets stored in wp_options if compromise is suspected
Review database logs and access logs for evidence of prior exploitation attempts

Patch Information

At the time of CVE publication, the vulnerability affects WP Roadmap through version 2.1.3 with no fixed version listed in the advisory. Consult the Patchstack WP Roadmap Vulnerability Advisory and the official Iqonic Design changelog for the latest patched release information.

Workarounds

Restrict plugin endpoint access using WordPress role management to limit which authenticated users can interact with wp-roadmap features
Deploy a WAF such as Patchstack, Wordfence, or ModSecurity with virtual patching rules covering CVE-2025-52822
Enforce the principle of least privilege by disabling open user registration on sites where subscriber accounts are not required
Place WordPress administration endpoints behind IP allowlists or a VPN to reduce exposure to network-based exploitation

bash

# Disable open registration in wp-config.php to reduce attacker access
wp option update users_can_register 0

# Deactivate the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI until a patch is available
wp plugin deactivate wp-roadmap