CVE-2025-22693 – This SQL injection vulnerability in the Contest... (How to Fix)

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2025-22693?

CVE-2025-22693 has a CVSS score of 7.6 (HIGH). This SQL injection vulnerability in the Contest Gallery WordPress plugin allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the database. It affects all versions up to and including 25.1.0. WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of this plugin are at risk.

📋 TL;DR

This SQL injection vulnerability in the Contest Gallery WordPress plugin allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the database. It affects all versions up to and including 25.1.0. WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of this plugin are at risk.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Contest Gallery WordPress Plugin

Versions: All versions up to and including 25.1.0

Operating Systems: Any OS running WordPress

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: Requires WordPress installation with Contest Gallery plugin enabled. No special configuration needed.

📦 What is this software?

Contest Gallery by Contest Gallery

View all CVEs affecting Contest Gallery →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

Complete database compromise leading to data theft, data manipulation, privilege escalation, or full system takeover via subsequent attacks.

🟠

Likely Case

Unauthorized data access, extraction of sensitive information like user credentials, or database manipulation.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact with proper input validation, parameterized queries, and database permissions restricting write access.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

SQL injection typically requires some level of access or user interaction. No public exploit code available at time of analysis.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Version after 25.1.0

Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/contest-gallery/vulnerability/wordpress-contest-gallery-plugin-25-1-0-sql-injection-vulnerability?_s_id=cve

Restart Required: No

Instructions:

1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find Contest Gallery plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and remove plugin until patch is released.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Input Validation Filter

all

Implement custom input validation for all user inputs before processing by Contest Gallery

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Disable or remove Contest Gallery plugin immediately
Implement web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection rules

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Contest Gallery version number

Check Version:

wp plugin list --name=contest-gallery --field=version

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify plugin version is greater than 25.1.0 in WordPress admin

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusual SQL error messages in WordPress logs
Multiple failed SQL query attempts
Suspicious database queries from web server

Network Indicators:

HTTP requests with SQL syntax in parameters
Unusual database connection patterns

SIEM Query:

source="wordpress.log" AND ("SQL syntax" OR "database error" OR "mysql_error")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2025-22693

CVSS v3 Score: 7.6 (HIGH)

CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L

CWE: CWE-89

EPSS Score: 0.12% exploit probability (30.6th percentile)

Published: February 3, 2025

Last Updated: April 15, 2025

🔗 References

https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/contest-gallery/vulnerability/wordpress-contest-gallery-plugin-25-1-0-sql-injection-vulnerability?_s_id=cve Third Party Advisory

📤 Share & Export

📄 Export Markdown 📋 Export JSON

🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

If you're affected by CVE-2025-22693, you might also want to check these: