Overview
A critical security vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-12061, has been discovered in the TAX SERVICE Electronic HDM WordPress plugin. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated users to execute arbitrary SQL statements on the WordPress database, potentially leading to complete website compromise. The vulnerability resides in versions prior to 1.2.1.
Technical Details
The root cause of CVE-2025-12061 is the lack of proper authorization and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) checks within an AJAX action handler in the plugin. Specifically, an endpoint designed for importing data fails to verify user permissions or the authenticity of the request. This omission allows attackers to craft malicious requests, injecting arbitrary SQL code into the database. Because no authentication is required, these attacks can be initiated by anyone, even without an account on the WordPress site.
The absence of CSRF protection means an attacker can trick an authenticated administrator into unknowingly triggering the vulnerable function. This can be achieved by embedding a malicious script on a website the administrator visits or through other social engineering techniques.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, the CVSS score and severity are marked as “N/A.” However, given the nature of the vulnerability – unauthenticated remote code execution via SQL injection – a high to critical severity score is likely. A CVSS score will likely be assigned once a complete analysis is performed.
Possible Impact
The exploitation of CVE-2025-12061 can have severe consequences:
- Data Breach: Sensitive data stored in the WordPress database, including user credentials, customer information, and financial records, can be accessed and stolen.
- Website Defacement: The attacker can modify website content, injecting malicious code or replacing it with propaganda.
- Malware Distribution: The website can be used to distribute malware to visitors.
- Complete System Compromise: In some cases, SQL injection vulnerabilities can be leveraged to gain access to the underlying server operating system.
- Denial of Service: The attacker could corrupt the database, rendering the website unusable.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The most effective way to mitigate CVE-2025-12061 is to immediately update the TAX SERVICE Electronic HDM WordPress plugin to version 1.2.1 or later. This version contains the necessary security fixes to address the vulnerability.
- Update the Plugin: Log into your WordPress admin dashboard. Navigate to the “Plugins” section. Locate the “TAX SERVICE Electronic HDM” plugin and click “Update Now” if an update is available.
- Verify the Update: After updating, confirm that the plugin version is 1.2.1 or later.
- Monitor for Suspicious Activity: Keep a close eye on your website’s logs and database for any signs of compromise.
- Consider a WAF: Implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) can provide an additional layer of protection against SQL injection attacks, even if vulnerabilities exist in plugins or themes.
