CVE-2021-25007
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on WordPress sites using the MOLIE plugin. It affects all WordPress installations with MOLIE plugin versions up to 0.5, potentially leading to data theft or site compromise.
💻 Affected Systems
- MOLIE WordPress plugin
📦 What is this software?
Molie Instructure Canvas Linking Tool by Molie Instructure Canvas Linking Tool Project
View all CVEs affecting Molie Instructure Canvas Linking Tool →
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full database compromise, including sensitive data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or complete site takeover.
Likely Case
Unauthorized access to or manipulation of database contents, such as user data or plugin settings.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if input validation or web application firewalls block malicious requests.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation is straightforward due to lack of input validation, with public details available from WPScan.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 0.5 (check plugin updates for exact version)
Vendor Advisory: https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/cf907d53-cc4a-4b02-bed3-64754128112c
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find MOLIE plugin and update to the latest version. 4. If no update is available, disable or remove the plugin.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable MOLIE plugin
linuxTemporarily deactivate the plugin to prevent exploitation until a patch is applied.
wp plugin deactivate molie
Implement WAF rules
allUse a web application firewall to block SQL injection attempts targeting the vulnerable parameter.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict access to the WordPress site using IP whitelisting or authentication.
- Monitor logs for unusual SQL queries or errors related to the MOLIE plugin.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check the plugin version in WordPress admin under Plugins > Installed Plugins; if MOLIE is version 0.5 or earlier, it is vulnerable.
Check Version:
wp plugin get molie --field=version
Verify Fix Applied:
After updating, confirm the MOLIE plugin version is above 0.5 in the WordPress admin panel.
📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SQL error messages in WordPress or web server logs, especially involving 'molie' or post parameters.
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests with SQL injection payloads targeting endpoints related to the MOLIE plugin.
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "SQL" AND "molie"