CVE-2025-23912 – This SQL injection vulnerability in the WordPre... (How to Fix)

📋 TL;DR

This SQL injection vulnerability in the WordPress Custom Sidebar plugin allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the database. It affects all WordPress sites running the plugin version 2.3 or earlier. Attackers can potentially extract, modify, or delete database content.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:

Typomedia Foundation WordPress Custom Sidebar

Versions: n/a through 2.3

Operating Systems: Any OS running WordPress

Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes

Notes: All WordPress installations with vulnerable plugin versions are affected regardless of configuration.

⚠️ 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.

Recommended Actions:

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 leading to data theft, privilege escalation, site defacement, or full system takeover via subsequent attacks.

🟠

Likely Case

Data extraction from the WordPress database including user credentials, sensitive content, and configuration data.

🟢

If Mitigated

Limited impact if database permissions are restricted, but still potential for data leakage.

🌐 Internet-Facing: HIGH

🏢 Internal Only: MEDIUM

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No

Weaponized: UNKNOWN

Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No

Complexity: MEDIUM

Blind SQL injection requires more sophisticated exploitation but is still highly dangerous.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: Version after 2.3

Vendor Advisory: https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/wordpress-custom-sidebar/vulnerability/wordpress-wordpress-custom-sidebar-plugin-2-3-sql-injection-vulnerability?_s_id=cve

Restart Required: No

Instructions:

1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins
3. Find 'WordPress Custom Sidebar'
4. Click 'Update Now' if available
5. If no update available, deactivate and remove the plugin

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Disable vulnerable plugin

WordPress

Temporarily deactivate the WordPress Custom Sidebar plugin until patched version is available

wp plugin deactivate wordpress-custom-sidebar

🧯 If You Can't Patch

Implement web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection rules
Restrict database user permissions to minimum required

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → WordPress Custom Sidebar version

Check Version:

wp plugin get wordpress-custom-sidebar --field=version

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify plugin version is greater than 2.3

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

Unusual SQL queries in database logs
Multiple failed login attempts from single IP
Unexpected database errors in WordPress logs

Network Indicators:

HTTP requests with SQL syntax in parameters
Unusual traffic patterns to plugin endpoints

SIEM Query:

source="wordpress.log" AND ("sql" OR "database error" OR "wp-custom-sidebar")

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2025-23912

CVSS v3 Score: 8.5 (HIGH)

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

CWE: CWE-89

EPSS Score: 0.12% exploit probability (31.6th percentile)

Published: January 16, 2025

Last Updated: January 16, 2025

🔗 References

https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/wordpress-custom-sidebar/vulnerability/wordpress-wordpress-custom-sidebar-plugin-2-3-sql-injection-vulnerability?_s_id=cve

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🔗 Related Vulnerabilities

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