CVE-2025-11177
📋 TL;DR
The External Login WordPress plugin contains an SQL injection vulnerability in the 'log' parameter that allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries. This affects all versions up to 1.11.2 when PostgreSQL or MSSQL databases are configured for external authentication. Attackers can extract sensitive information from the database.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress External Login plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete database compromise including extraction of user credentials, personal data, and potential privilege escalation to full system access.
Likely Case
Extraction of user credentials, email addresses, and other sensitive data from the WordPress database.
If Mitigated
Limited data exposure if database permissions are properly restricted and sensitive data is encrypted.
🎯 Exploit Status
SQL injection is well-understood and automated tools exist. The vulnerability requires specific database configuration to be exploitable.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.11.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/external-login
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins. 3. Find External Login plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and delete plugin, then install fresh version 1.11.3+ from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable External Login Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate external-login
Switch to MySQL/MariaDB
allChange external authentication database to MySQL/MariaDB which is not vulnerable
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement WAF rules to block SQL injection patterns in the 'log' parameter
- Restrict database user permissions to read-only for the WordPress application user
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > External Login version. If version is 1.11.2 or lower and using PostgreSQL/MSSQL for external auth, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get external-login --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 1.11.3 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SQL queries in database logs
- Multiple failed login attempts with SQL syntax in username field
- Unexpected database errors in WordPress logs
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to login endpoints containing SQL syntax in parameters
- Unusual database connection patterns from web server
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "external-login" AND ("sql" OR "union" OR "select" OR "from" OR "where")