CVE-2025-6189: WordPress Duplicate Page Plugin SQLI Flaw

CVE-2025-6189 Overview

CVE-2025-6189 is a time-based SQL injection vulnerability affecting the Duplicate Page and Post plugin for WordPress. All versions up to and including 2.9.5 are affected. The flaw resides in the handling of the meta_key parameter, where insufficient escaping and inadequate query preparation allow authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or higher to append arbitrary SQL clauses to existing queries. Successful exploitation enables attackers to extract sensitive data from the WordPress database, including user credentials, session tokens, and configuration secrets. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).

Critical Impact
Authenticated Contributor-level users can extract sensitive database contents through time-based blind SQL injection against the meta_key parameter.

Affected Products

Duplicate Page and Post plugin for WordPress, versions up to and including 2.9.5
WordPress sites running the plugin with Contributor-level or higher accounts enabled
Any WordPress installation exposing the vulnerable plugin endpoint to authenticated users

Discovery Timeline

2025-09-10 - CVE-2025-6189 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-6189

Vulnerability Analysis

The Duplicate Page and Post plugin accepts a meta_key parameter from authenticated users and incorporates it into a database query without applying proper escaping or parameterization. Because the query is not prepared using WordPress's $wpdb->prepare() API, attacker-controlled input reaches the SQL interpreter directly. This allows an attacker to inject additional SQL statements or conditional expressions that alter query execution.

The injection is time-based, meaning the attacker infers data by triggering conditional delays through SQL functions such as SLEEP() or BENCHMARK(). Responses that take longer to return reveal whether a boolean condition is true. This channel is slow but reliable, and it works even when the application returns no visible output from the query. Contributor-level access is a low barrier in many WordPress installations, particularly on multi-author sites and membership platforms.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient input sanitization combined with missing use of prepared statements. The plugin concatenates the meta_key parameter into an SQL query string rather than binding it as a parameter. WordPress provides $wpdb->prepare() specifically to defend against this class of flaw, but the vulnerable code path bypasses it.

Attack Vector

An authenticated attacker with Contributor privileges submits a crafted meta_key value containing SQL syntax when invoking the plugin's duplication functionality. The injected payload typically includes a conditional SLEEP() clause used to enumerate table contents one bit at a time. The vulnerability requires no user interaction beyond the attacker's own authenticated session. Refer to the Wordfence Vulnerability Report and the WordPress Plugin Source Code for technical detail on the affected code path.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-6189

Indicators of Compromise

Web server access logs containing requests to plugin endpoints with SQL keywords such as SLEEP, BENCHMARK, UNION SELECT, or IF( in the meta_key parameter.
Unusually long HTTP response times for requests handled by the Duplicate Page and Post plugin, suggesting time-based inference attacks.
Authenticated sessions from Contributor accounts issuing repeated requests against the same plugin endpoint within short intervals.

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall rules to inspect the meta_key parameter for SQL metacharacters and known time-based injection payloads.
Enable MySQL slow query logging and alert on queries containing SLEEP() or BENCHMARK() calls originating from the WordPress database user.
Correlate authenticated user activity with database query anomalies to identify low-privilege accounts issuing suspicious requests.

Monitoring Recommendations

Audit all WordPress accounts with Contributor role or higher and remove or downgrade unused accounts.
Monitor plugin request rates per user and flag accounts that generate abnormal request volumes to duplication endpoints.
Ingest WordPress and database logs into a centralized analytics platform to enable retrospective hunting for injection attempts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-6189

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Duplicate Page and Post plugin to a version later than 2.9.5 as soon as a patched release is available from the vendor.
Review WordPress user accounts and revoke Contributor-level or higher privileges from accounts that do not require them.
Rotate database credentials and WordPress secret keys if evidence of exploitation is discovered.

Patch Information

Monitor the WordPress Plugin Developer Info page for updated releases addressing CVE-2025-6189. Apply the fixed version across all WordPress installations that use this plugin.

Workarounds

Deactivate and remove the Duplicate Page and Post plugin until a patched version is installed.
Restrict registration and limit Contributor-level access to trusted users only.
Deploy a web application firewall with rules that block SQL injection patterns targeting the meta_key parameter.
Enforce least-privilege permissions on the WordPress database user to limit the impact of successful injection.

bash

# Configuration example: temporarily disable the plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate duplicate-wp-page-post
wp plugin delete duplicate-wp-page-post

# Audit users with Contributor role or higher
wp user list --role=contributor --fields=ID,user_login,user_email