CVE-2025-52831: Video List Manager SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2025-52831 Overview

CVE-2025-52831 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Video List Manager WordPress plugin developed by thanhtungtnt. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL queries through user-controlled input. This flaw enables unauthorized access to sensitive database information and potential manipulation of database contents.

Critical Impact
Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL Injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data from the WordPress database, potentially compromising user credentials, site configuration, and other confidential information stored in the database.

Affected Products

Video List Manager WordPress Plugin versions up to and including 1.7
WordPress installations running vulnerable versions of Video List Manager

Discovery Timeline

2025-07-04 - CVE-2025-52831 published to NVD
2025-07-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-52831

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the Video List Manager WordPress plugin due to insufficient input sanitization. The plugin fails to properly neutralize special characters in user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query structure and execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying WordPress database.

The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring any authentication or user interaction. The scope of impact extends beyond the vulnerable component itself, potentially affecting the confidentiality of the entire WordPress database while also causing limited availability disruption.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the lack of proper input validation and parameterized queries in the Video List Manager plugin. User-supplied data is concatenated directly into SQL query strings without adequate sanitization or the use of prepared statements, which are the standard defense against SQL Injection attacks in PHP/WordPress development.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker. By crafting malicious input containing SQL syntax, an attacker can manipulate database queries to:

Extract sensitive data from the WordPress database including user credentials
Bypass authentication mechanisms
Read arbitrary database tables and columns
Potentially cause denial of service through resource-intensive queries

The vulnerability mechanism involves injecting SQL metacharacters and commands through vulnerable input parameters in the plugin. When the application processes this malicious input without proper sanitization, the injected SQL code is executed by the database server. For detailed technical information, refer to the Patchstack vulnerability database entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-52831

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual database query patterns or errors in WordPress debug logs
Unexpected SQL syntax errors appearing in application logs
Database access patterns from web application containing SQL metacharacters (single quotes, double dashes, UNION keywords)
Abnormal data exfiltration patterns or large database read operations

Detection Strategies

Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL Injection attack patterns
Monitor web server access logs for requests containing SQL injection payloads
Enable WordPress debug logging to capture database query errors
Deploy intrusion detection systems with signatures for common SQL Injection techniques

Monitoring Recommendations

Configure alerting for database query anomalies and syntax errors
Monitor for unusual database read operations, especially bulk data access
Track plugin-related HTTP requests for suspicious parameter values
Review authentication logs for signs of credential theft following SQL Injection attacks

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-52831

Immediate Actions Required

Immediately deactivate the Video List Manager plugin if running version 1.7 or earlier
Audit database access logs for signs of exploitation
Review and rotate database credentials if compromise is suspected
Consider removing the plugin entirely until a patched version is released

Patch Information

At the time of publication, users should consult the Patchstack vulnerability advisory for the latest patch status and remediation guidance. Monitor the WordPress plugin repository for updated versions of Video List Manager that address this SQL Injection vulnerability.

Workarounds

Disable or remove the Video List Manager plugin until a security patch is available
Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL Injection protection rules
Restrict database user privileges to the minimum required for WordPress operation
Consider using WordPress security plugins that provide runtime SQL Injection protection
Apply network-level access controls to limit exposure of the WordPress installation

bash

# WordPress CLI command to deactivate the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate video-list-manager

# Verify plugin is deactivated
wp plugin status video-list-manager