Overview
CVE-2025-7402 identifies a high-severity time-based SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Ads Pro Plugin – Multi-Purpose WordPress Advertising Manager plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to, and including, 4.95. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this flaw to inject malicious SQL code via the ‘site_id’ parameter, potentially leading to sensitive data extraction from the WordPress database.
Technical Details
The vulnerability lies in the insufficient input sanitization of the ‘site_id’ parameter. Specifically, the Ads Pro plugin lacks proper escaping of user-supplied input within the vulnerable versions. Furthermore, the existing SQL query does not sufficiently prepare the query, creating an opening for SQL Injection. This allows attackers to append malicious SQL queries to the intended query. The time-based nature of the SQL injection means attackers can infer information about the database schema and content based on the response time to crafted requests.
CVSS Analysis
This vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 7.5 (HIGH).
- CVSS Vector: (While not provided in the source, a typical SQL Injection vector might look like: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N)
- Explanation: The high score reflects the potential for unauthenticated remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive database information. The ease of exploitation (low attack complexity) contributes to the high severity.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of this SQL Injection vulnerability can have severe consequences:
- Data Breach: Attackers can extract sensitive information, including user credentials, site configuration details, and other valuable data stored in the WordPress database.
- Website Defacement: In some scenarios, attackers could modify website content or inject malicious code.
- Account Takeover: Stolen user credentials can be used to compromise user accounts, potentially including administrator accounts.
- Service Disruption: The injected SQL code could potentially disrupt the normal operation of the website.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
The most crucial step to mitigate this vulnerability is to update the Ads Pro plugin to the latest version as soon as a patch is released. Check the plugin developer’s website or the WordPress plugin repository for updates.
In the interim, if an update is not immediately available, consider the following (though these are only temporary measures and do not fully eliminate the risk):
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a WAF with rules designed to detect and block SQL Injection attempts. Configure the WAF to specifically inspect the ‘site_id’ parameter.
- Input Validation: While awaiting a patch, consider adding basic input validation to the ‘site_id’ parameter via a custom plugin or .htaccess rules. However, be aware that this is likely to be bypassed by sophisticated attackers. This should *not* be considered a full solution.
- Monitor Website Activity: Closely monitor your website’s logs for any suspicious activity, such as unusual database queries or attempts to access sensitive data.
Important: Updating the plugin is the *only* reliable way to fully address this vulnerability.
