CVE-2025-54043 Overview
CVE-2025-54043 is a SQL Injection vulnerability [CWE-89] affecting the YayCommerce SMTP for Amazon SES WordPress plugin (smtp-amazon-ses). The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. All plugin versions up to and including 1.9 are affected. Attackers with high privileges can inject SQL statements over the network without user interaction. Successful exploitation results in high confidentiality impact, low availability impact, and a scope change because the injected queries can reach data beyond the plugin's own boundary. The vulnerability was published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) on July 16, 2025.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the WordPress database, exposing sensitive site data and credentials stored in wp_users and related tables.
Affected Products
- YayCommerce SMTP for Amazon SES plugin (smtp-amazon-ses) versions up to and including 1.9
- WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin
- WooCommerce deployments relying on the plugin for transactional email delivery
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-07-16 - CVE-2025-54043 published to NVD
- 2026-04-23 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-54043
Vulnerability Analysis
The SMTP for Amazon SES plugin fails to sanitize or parameterize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This classifies the issue under [CWE-89], Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. Attackers who already hold high-privilege accounts on the WordPress instance can manipulate query parameters to alter the intended SQL logic. The scope-changed impact indicates that injected SQL can access data outside the plugin's normal data boundary, including core WordPress tables. The Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) places this CVE at 0.213% with a percentile of 43.833, indicating limited public exploitation activity at the time of publication.
Root Cause
The root cause is the direct concatenation of unsanitized input into SQL queries executed against the WordPress database. The plugin does not enforce prepared statements or use $wpdb->prepare() consistently for all query paths that accept administrative input. Without input neutralization, special characters such as single quotes, semicolons, and comment markers pass directly into the query string.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to a WordPress administrative endpoint exposed by the plugin and an authenticated session with high privileges. The attacker submits crafted parameters containing SQL metacharacters to a vulnerable plugin handler. The backend database engine executes the modified query, returning data or modifying state according to the attacker's payload. Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for the disclosure details.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. The vulnerability mechanism follows the standard SQL injection pattern where attacker-controlled input is concatenated into a database query without sanitization or parameter binding.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-54043
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected SQL syntax fragments such as UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, or -- in web server access logs targeting plugin endpoints under /wp-admin/ or /wp-content/plugins/smtp-amazon-ses/
- New or modified administrative accounts in the wp_users table without corresponding administrator actions
- Database error messages referencing the plugin's PHP files in WordPress debug logs
Detection Strategies
- Inspect HTTP request bodies and query strings sent to plugin handlers for SQL metacharacters and tautology patterns
- Correlate authenticated session activity with anomalous database query volumes originating from the WordPress PHP process
- Compare the installed plugin version against the patched release to identify exposed hosts
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward WordPress access logs, PHP error logs, and MySQL general query logs to a centralized analytics platform for retention and pattern analysis
- Alert on outbound database queries containing union-based or boolean-based injection signatures
- Track administrator-level logins and subsequent plugin configuration changes to identify abuse of privileged accounts
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-54043
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the SMTP for Amazon SES plugin to a version released after 1.9 that addresses the SQL injection flaw
- Audit all WordPress administrator accounts and rotate credentials for any account that may have been compromised
- Review database contents for unauthorized modifications, especially the wp_users and wp_options tables
Patch Information
Review the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for vendor remediation guidance. Apply the fixed plugin release from the WordPress plugin repository as soon as it becomes available in your environment.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the smtp-amazon-ses plugin until a patched version is installed
- Restrict access to /wp-admin/ using IP allowlisting at the web server or web application firewall layer
- Deploy a web application firewall rule set that blocks common SQL injection payload patterns on plugin endpoints
# Disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI until patched
wp plugin deactivate smtp-amazon-ses
wp plugin delete smtp-amazon-ses
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
