CVE-2025-69295: Coven Core SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2025-69295 Overview

CVE-2025-69295 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Coven Core WordPress plugin developed by TeconceTheme. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to perform Blind SQL Injection attacks against WordPress sites running vulnerable versions of the plugin. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands (CWE-89), enabling attackers to extract sensitive database information without direct visibility of query results.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this Blind SQL Injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data from WordPress databases, potentially compromising user credentials, personal information, and site configurations.

Affected Products

• TeconceTheme Coven Core (coven-core) plugin versions through 1.3
• WordPress installations with vulnerable Coven Core plugin installed
• All sites using affected versions regardless of WordPress core version

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-20 - CVE-2025-69295 published to NVD
• 2026-02-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-69295

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability exists due to insufficient input validation and sanitization within the Coven Core WordPress plugin. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a Blind SQL Injection, which means attackers cannot directly see the results of their malicious queries in the application's response. Instead, they must infer information based on the application's behavior, timing differences, or conditional responses.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires no authentication to exploit. Attackers can craft malicious requests remotely without needing any privileges on the target WordPress installation. The scope extends beyond the vulnerable component itself, potentially allowing access to the entire WordPress database containing user accounts, posts, settings, and other sensitive information.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-69295 is the improper neutralization of user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. The Coven Core plugin fails to properly sanitize, validate, or parameterize input data before passing it to database operations. This allows specially crafted input containing SQL syntax to modify the intended query logic, enabling unauthorized database access.

WordPress provides numerous secure database interaction methods through the $wpdb class, including prepared statements via $wpdb->prepare(). The vulnerable code in Coven Core appears to bypass these security mechanisms, directly concatenating user input into SQL queries without adequate protection.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, requiring no user interaction or prior authentication. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending specially crafted HTTP requests to a WordPress site running the vulnerable Coven Core plugin.

In a Blind SQL Injection attack scenario, the attacker typically employs one of two techniques:

Boolean-based Blind SQL Injection: The attacker sends payloads that cause the application to return different responses based on whether a condition in the injected SQL is true or false. By systematically testing conditions, attackers can extract data one character at a time.

Time-based Blind SQL Injection: The attacker injects SQL commands that cause deliberate delays (using functions like SLEEP() in MySQL) when certain conditions are met. By measuring response times, attackers can infer whether conditions are true or false, allowing data extraction.

For detailed technical information about this vulnerability, refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Database Entry.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-69295

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual or malformed HTTP requests targeting WordPress plugin endpoints, particularly those containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, UNION keywords, or comment sequences
• Database query logs showing unexpected SLEEP(), BENCHMARK(), or conditional IF() functions
• Abnormal response time patterns suggesting time-based SQL injection attempts
• Error logs containing SQL syntax errors or database connection anomalies

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns including UNION-based, Boolean-based, and time-based attack signatures
• Monitor WordPress access logs for requests containing SQL injection payloads targeting the Coven Core plugin's endpoints
• Deploy database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns or unauthorized data access attempts
• Configure intrusion detection systems to alert on SQL injection attack signatures in HTTP traffic

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for WordPress and the underlying database to capture detailed request and query information
• Set up alerting for database queries with abnormal execution times that may indicate time-based SQL injection probing
• Implement real-time monitoring of WordPress plugin directories for unauthorized modifications
• Review web server logs regularly for patterns indicative of automated SQL injection scanning tools

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-69295

Immediate Actions Required

• Immediately deactivate and remove the Coven Core plugin from all WordPress installations until a patched version is available
• Review database access logs for signs of exploitation and consider forensic analysis if suspicious activity is detected
• Implement WAF rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting WordPress sites
• Change all database credentials and WordPress user passwords as a precautionary measure if exploitation is suspected

Patch Information

At the time of publication, organizations should monitor the Patchstack Vulnerability Database Entry for updates regarding an official patch from TeconceTheme. Until a fix is released, the most effective mitigation is complete removal of the vulnerable plugin. Site administrators should subscribe to security advisories from the plugin vendor and WordPress security resources to receive notification when a patched version becomes available.

Workarounds

• Remove or deactivate the Coven Core plugin entirely until a security patch is released
• Implement strict input validation at the web server level using ModSecurity or similar WAF solutions with SQL injection rulesets
• Restrict database user privileges to minimum required permissions, limiting potential damage from successful exploitation
• Consider replacing the Coven Core plugin with alternative solutions that provide similar functionality with better security practices

# WordPress CLI commands to disable the vulnerable plugin
wp plugin deactivate coven-core --all-sites
wp plugin delete coven-core

# Verify plugin removal
wp plugin list | grep coven-core