Overview
CVE-2025-11981 details a medium-severity SQL Injection vulnerability discovered in the School Management System – WPSchoolPress plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.2.23. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with administrator-level access or higher to inject arbitrary SQL commands into database queries. Exploitation could lead to the extraction of sensitive information, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization on the ‘SCodes’ parameter used within the plugin’s code. Specifically, the plugin fails to properly escape user-supplied input and lacks sufficient preparation in its existing SQL queries. This allows an attacker to append malicious SQL code to legitimate queries.
The vulnerable code can be found in the wpsp-ajaxworks.php file. Examples from older versions of the code are available:
An attacker could craft a malicious request containing SQL code within the ‘SCodes’ parameter. Due to the lack of proper escaping, this code is then executed by the database, potentially revealing sensitive data or allowing further malicious actions.
CVSS Analysis
The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 4.9, classifying it as MEDIUM severity.
- CVSS Score: 4.9
- Vector: (Further CVSS vector details would be included here if available)
While the score is medium, the impact can be significant depending on the sensitivity of the data stored within the WordPress database. The requirement for administrator-level access does limit the attack surface somewhat, but compromised administrator accounts are a common attack vector.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of this SQL Injection vulnerability could lead to:
- Data Breach: Extraction of sensitive information such as user credentials, student data, financial records, and other confidential data stored in the WordPress database.
- Account Takeover: Gaining access to other administrator accounts, allowing the attacker to fully control the WordPress site.
- Website Defacement: Modifying website content or injecting malicious code.
- Backdoor Installation: Planting a backdoor to maintain persistent access to the server even after the vulnerability is patched.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The primary mitigation step is to update the WPSchoolPress plugin to the latest version. Verify that the installed version is higher than 2.2.23. Plugin updates often include security patches to address known vulnerabilities.
If an update is not immediately available, consider temporarily disabling the WPSchoolPress plugin until a patched version is released. Although this will impact the functionality of the school management system, it will prevent potential exploitation.
General security best practices for WordPress should also be followed:
- Use strong, unique passwords for all user accounts, especially administrator accounts.
- Implement two-factor authentication for increased security.
- Keep all WordPress plugins and themes up to date.
- Regularly scan your WordPress site for malware and vulnerabilities.
