Overview
A security vulnerability has been identified in the Attention Bar WordPress plugin, specifically versions up to and including 0.7.2.1. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-12502, allows high-privilege users (such as administrators) to perform SQL injection attacks. The plugin fails to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied input before using it in SQL queries, making it possible to inject malicious SQL code.
Technical Details
The root cause of the vulnerability lies in the improper handling of user-supplied data within the Attention Bar plugin’s code. Specifically, a parameter is directly incorporated into a SQL statement without adequate sanitization or escaping. This allows an attacker with administrative privileges to inject arbitrary SQL code, potentially leading to data breaches, modification of website content, or even complete compromise of the WordPress installation.
The vulnerability occurs due to the plugin directly using user input within an SQL query without using functions like $wpdb->prepare() to properly escape the data. This lack of input validation allows for malicious SQL code to be injected through a crafted request.
CVSS Analysis
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) has assigned a score of 6.8 (MEDIUM) to CVE-2025-12502. This score indicates a significant risk, particularly considering the potential impact and the ease of exploitation for users with administrative privileges.
The CVSS vector string provides further details:
- Base Score: 6.8
- Severity: MEDIUM
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-12502 can have severe consequences:
- Data Breach: Attackers could potentially extract sensitive data from the WordPress database, including user credentials, personal information, and confidential business data.
- Website Defacement: Attackers could modify website content, inject malicious code, or redirect users to phishing sites.
- Privilege Escalation: In some scenarios, attackers might be able to escalate their privileges and gain complete control over the WordPress installation.
- Denial of Service: Attackers could potentially disrupt the availability of the website.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
To mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2025-12502, it is strongly recommended to take the following actions:
- Update the Plugin: Check for and install the latest version of the Attention Bar WordPress plugin. The vendor should release a patched version addressing this vulnerability.
- Disable the Plugin (If No Update Available): If an update is not immediately available, temporarily disable the Attention Bar plugin until a patched version is released.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with rules that can detect and block SQL injection attempts.
- Review User Privileges: Ensure that users are assigned the minimum necessary privileges to perform their tasks. Limit administrative access to trusted individuals.
