CVE-2025-69305: Crete Core SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2025-69305 Overview

CVE-2025-69305 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the TeconceTheme Crete Core (crete-core) WordPress plugin. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to perform Blind SQL Injection attacks against WordPress sites using the affected plugin, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive database information.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this Blind SQL Injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data from WordPress databases, including user credentials, site configuration, and other confidential information stored in the database.

Affected Products

• TeconceTheme Crete Core WordPress Plugin versions up to and including 1.4.3

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-20 - CVE CVE-2025-69305 published to NVD
• 2026-02-24 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-69305

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection'). The Crete Core plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries executed against the WordPress database.

Blind SQL Injection differs from traditional SQL Injection in that the attacker cannot see the direct output of their malicious queries. Instead, the attacker must infer information by observing the application's behavior—such as response timing differences or changes in page content—to extract data character by character.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability means attackers can exploit it remotely without requiring any authentication or user interaction, significantly increasing the potential attack surface for affected WordPress installations.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate input validation and sanitization within the Crete Core plugin. User-controllable parameters are passed directly into SQL query construction without proper escaping or use of parameterized queries (prepared statements). WordPress provides functions like $wpdb->prepare() specifically to prevent SQL injection, but the vulnerable code path bypasses these protections.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires no authentication or user interaction. An attacker can craft malicious HTTP requests containing SQL injection payloads targeting vulnerable endpoints in the Crete Core plugin. Using time-based or boolean-based blind SQL injection techniques, the attacker can systematically extract database contents including:

• WordPress user credentials and password hashes
• Site configuration and secrets stored in wp_options
• Private content from posts and custom post types
• Plugin and theme configuration data

Since this is a blind injection, attackers typically use automated tools like SQLMap to efficiently extract data through inference-based techniques. The extraction process involves sending numerous requests to deduce database contents one character at a time by measuring response differences.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-69305

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SQL error messages in WordPress debug logs or server error logs
• High volume of requests to plugin endpoints with suspicious query string parameters
• Requests containing SQL injection patterns such as SLEEP(), BENCHMARK(), WAITFOR, or boolean operators
• Abnormally long response times on specific plugin endpoints indicating time-based injection attempts

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block SQL injection payloads in request parameters
• Monitor WordPress access logs for requests containing SQL injection signatures targeting the Crete Core plugin
• Enable WordPress debug logging temporarily to identify anomalous database queries originating from the plugin
• Implement intrusion detection signatures for common blind SQL injection patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Set up alerting for database query execution times exceeding normal thresholds
• Monitor for multiple sequential requests from single IP addresses targeting plugin endpoints
• Review server logs for requests containing encoded SQL metacharacters (%27, %22, %3B)
• Track failed and unusual database query patterns in MySQL/MariaDB slow query logs

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-69305

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Crete Core plugin to a version newer than 1.4.3 if a patched version is available from the vendor
• If no patch is available, consider temporarily deactivating the Crete Core plugin until a fix is released
• Implement WAF rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting WordPress installations
• Review database access logs for any signs of prior exploitation

Patch Information

According to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report, this vulnerability affects Crete Core versions through 1.4.3. WordPress administrators should check for plugin updates through the WordPress dashboard or contact TeconceTheme directly for remediation guidance.

Workarounds

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) such as Cloudflare, Sucuri, or Wordfence with SQL injection protection enabled
• Implement server-level ModSecurity rules to filter SQL injection payloads
• Restrict access to WordPress admin and plugin endpoints using IP allowlisting where feasible
• Apply the principle of least privilege to the WordPress database user, limiting permissions to only those required for normal operation

If using a WAF, ensure rules are configured to detect blind SQL injection techniques including time-based and boolean-based attacks. Monitor for bypass attempts as attackers may use encoding or obfuscation to evade signature-based detection.