CVE-2025-0821
📋 TL;DR
The Bit Assist WordPress plugin contains a time-based SQL injection vulnerability in all versions up to 1.5.2. Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or higher can exploit this to extract sensitive information from the database by manipulating SQL queries through the 'id' parameter.
💻 Affected Systems
- Bit Assist WordPress Plugin
📦 What is this software?
Bit Assist by Bitapps
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete database compromise including extraction of user credentials, sensitive site data, and potential privilege escalation to administrative access.
Likely Case
Data exfiltration of user information, plugin settings, and potentially other WordPress table data accessible to the database user.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper input validation and query parameterization in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but only Subscriber-level privileges, which are commonly available. Time-based injection makes detection more difficult.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.5.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/bit-assist/#developers
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find Bit Assist plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. Alternatively, download version 1.5.3+ from WordPress repository and manually replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Bit Assist Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate bit-assist
Web Application Firewall Rule
allBlock SQL injection patterns targeting the vulnerable endpoint
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove Subscriber role from all non-essential users
- Implement strict network access controls to limit plugin access
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Bit Assist version. If version is 1.5.2 or lower, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get bit-assist --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Bit Assist plugin version is 1.5.3 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual database query patterns from WordPress users
- Multiple failed/timeout requests to WidgetChannelController endpoints
- SQL error messages in WordPress debug logs
Network Indicators:
- Repeated POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with SQL-like payloads in 'id' parameter
- Unusual timing patterns in HTTP responses
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("SQL syntax" OR "database error" OR "WidgetChannelController")🔗 References
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/bit-assist/tags/1.5.2/backend/app/HTTP/Controllers/WidgetChannelController.php#L89
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3239816/#file5
- https://wordpress.org/plugins/bit-assist/#developers
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b64fc9d8-ea02-49e7-add1-8d83f0f41431?source=cve
