CVE-2025-5287: WordPress Likes Plugin SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2025-5287 Overview

The Likes and Dislikes Plugin for WordPress contains a SQL Injection vulnerability in all versions up to and including 1.0.0. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient escaping of the user-supplied post parameter and a lack of proper preparation on the existing SQL query. This flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to append additional SQL queries to existing queries, potentially extracting sensitive information from the database.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this SQL Injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data from the WordPress database, including user credentials, personal information, and other confidential content stored within the CMS.

Affected Products

• Likes and Dislikes Plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 1.0.0
• WordPress installations running the vulnerable inprosysmedia-likes-dislikes-post plugin
• Any website using the affected plugin's post rating functionality

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-05-28 - CVE-2025-5287 published to NVD
• 2025-05-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-5287

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) affects the Likes and Dislikes Plugin for WordPress. The flaw resides in the plugin's handling of the post parameter, which is incorporated into database queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. When a user interacts with the like/dislike functionality, the plugin processes the post identifier through a vulnerable code path that fails to properly escape special characters or use prepared statements.

The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication to exploit. Any visitor to a WordPress site running the vulnerable plugin can craft malicious requests to manipulate database queries. The attack is network-based with low complexity, meaning automated tools could be used to scan for and exploit this vulnerability at scale.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and insufficient use of WordPress's built-in database abstraction layer for secure query preparation. The vulnerable code at line 76 of inprosysmedia-likes-dislikes-post.php directly incorporates user input into SQL queries without using $wpdb->prepare() or equivalent parameterized query methods. This pattern violates secure coding practices for database interactions and creates a classic SQL Injection attack surface.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based, requiring no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted HTTP requests containing malicious SQL payloads in the post parameter. The injection point allows attackers to append additional SQL statements to existing queries, enabling techniques such as UNION-based injection to extract data from other database tables, including the wp_users table containing administrator credentials and email addresses.

The vulnerability can be exploited through typical SQL Injection payloads appended to the post parameter value. Attackers may use time-based blind injection techniques if direct data extraction is not immediately possible, or UNION-based injection to retrieve data from arbitrary database tables. For detailed technical analysis of the vulnerable code path, see the WordPress Plugin Code Review.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-5287

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests to WordPress sites containing SQL injection payloads in the post parameter
• Unusual database query patterns or errors in WordPress debug logs
• Unexpected data exfiltration or database access patterns
• Web application firewall logs showing SQL injection attempt blocks

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web server access logs for requests containing SQL metacharacters (', ", ;, --, UNION, SELECT) in the post parameter
• Deploy web application firewall rules specifically targeting SQL injection patterns
• Enable WordPress database query logging to detect anomalous query structures
• Implement intrusion detection signatures for known SQL injection attack patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure real-time alerting for SQL injection patterns in web application firewall logs
• Review WordPress database activity logs for unauthorized data access attempts
• Monitor for unusual outbound traffic that may indicate data exfiltration
• Establish baseline metrics for plugin-related database queries to detect anomalies

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-5287

Immediate Actions Required

• Deactivate and remove the Likes and Dislikes Plugin (inprosysmedia-likes-dislikes-post) from all WordPress installations immediately
• Audit database access logs for signs of prior exploitation
• Consider rotating WordPress database credentials and admin passwords as a precaution
• Deploy web application firewall rules to block SQL injection attempts

Patch Information

As of the last update, no patched version has been confirmed. Website administrators should monitor the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for updates on remediation status. Until a secure version is released, the plugin should be completely removed from production environments.

Workarounds

• Remove the vulnerable plugin entirely from WordPress installations
• Implement web application firewall rules to filter SQL injection payloads targeting the post parameter
• Use a WordPress security plugin with virtual patching capabilities to block exploitation attempts
• If the functionality is required, consider alternative plugins with better security practices

# WordPress CLI command to deactivate the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate inprosysmedia-likes-dislikes-post --path=/var/www/html

# Remove the plugin entirely
wp plugin delete inprosysmedia-likes-dislikes-post --path=/var/www/html

# Check for other potentially vulnerable plugins
wp plugin list --status=active --path=/var/www/html