CVE-2025-5487 Overview
CVE-2025-5487 is a time-based SQL Injection vulnerability in the AutomatorWP plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 5.2.3. It exists in the field_conditions parameter due to insufficient escaping of user-supplied input and inadequate preparation of the underlying SQL query. Authenticated attackers with Administrator-level access can append additional SQL statements to existing queries and extract sensitive database contents. Administrators can also extend access to authors and higher, which broadens the attacker pool when that configuration is enabled. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-89] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can exfiltrate sensitive WordPress database contents, including user credentials and configuration secrets, via crafted field_conditions payloads.
Affected Products
- AutomatorWP – Automator plugin for no-code automations, webhooks & custom integrations
- AutomatorWP versions ≤ 5.2.3
- WordPress sites with AutomatorWP installed and access extended to authors or higher
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-06-14 - CVE-2025-5487 published to NVD
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-5487
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the AutomatorWP trigger handling logic, specifically in the all-posts.php integration file. The field_conditions parameter is incorporated into a SQL query without proper escaping or parameterized preparation. An authenticated attacker with sufficient privileges can submit crafted input that closes the intended query context and appends arbitrary SQL clauses. Because the injection is time-based, attackers infer data by observing query response delays produced through functions such as SLEEP() or BENCHMARK(). This technique allows incremental extraction of database contents, including WordPress user hashes stored in the wp_users table and secrets in wp_options.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of user input passed to a dynamic SQL query. The plugin concatenates the field_conditions value into the query string instead of binding it through prepared statements using $wpdb->prepare(). This omission allows attacker-controlled syntax to alter query semantics.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires authenticated access with at least Administrator privileges by default. When the plugin is configured to expose automation features to authors and higher, the privilege barrier drops accordingly. The attacker submits a request containing a malicious field_conditions payload to a trigger endpoint exposed by the plugin. The injected SQL executes within the database context of WordPress, enabling blind, time-based data extraction over repeated requests.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Analysis and the WordPress AutomatorWP Trigger Script for technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-5487
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP POST requests to AutomatorWP trigger endpoints containing SQL keywords such as SLEEP, BENCHMARK, UNION, or SELECT in the field_conditions parameter.
- Unusually long response times on admin-ajax.php or AutomatorWP-handled endpoints, consistent with time-based blind injection.
- Repeated administrator-authenticated requests to the same trigger endpoint with incrementing payload values.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WordPress and reverse-proxy access logs for field_conditions values containing SQL syntax or encoded SQL operators.
- Enable MySQL slow query logging to surface intentionally delayed queries originating from the plugin's integration scripts.
- Correlate authenticated administrator activity with anomalous database query patterns or sustained latency spikes.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor for changes to WordPress administrator accounts, application passwords, and secret keys in wp_options.
- Alert on outbound data flows initiated shortly after administrator sessions that interact with AutomatorWP triggers.
- Track plugin version inventory across WordPress estates and flag installs running 5.2.3 or earlier.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-5487
Immediate Actions Required
- Update AutomatorWP to a version later than 5.2.3 as soon as the vendor's patched release is installed.
- Audit the plugin's role configuration and revoke access for authors or lower-privileged users where not required.
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and secret keys if exploitation is suspected.
Patch Information
The vendor addressed the issue in a commit referenced by the WordPress AutomatorWP Changeset. Site administrators should upgrade through the WordPress plugin updater to receive the fixed release.
Workarounds
- Restrict AutomatorWP access to trusted administrators only and disable delegation to lower roles.
- Deploy a web application firewall rule to block requests containing SQL syntax in the field_conditions parameter.
- Temporarily disable the AutomatorWP plugin if patching cannot be completed promptly.
# Configuration example: WAF rule pattern to block SQLi in field_conditions
# (Adapt to your WAF syntax; this is illustrative ModSecurity-style logic)
SecRule ARGS:field_conditions "@rx (?i)(sleep\(|benchmark\(|union\s+select|--|;)" \
"id:1005487,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,msg:'CVE-2025-5487 AutomatorWP SQLi attempt'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
