CVE-2025-9198
📋 TL;DR
This SQL injection vulnerability in the Wp cycle text announcement WordPress plugin allows authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or higher to inject malicious SQL queries through the 'cycle-text' shortcode. Attackers can extract sensitive information from the database, including user credentials and other confidential data. All WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of this plugin are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Wp cycle text announcement WordPress 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 leading to data theft, privilege escalation, and potential site takeover.
Likely Case
Extraction of sensitive user data, admin credentials, and other database contents.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper access controls and input validation are in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
SQL injection via authenticated shortcode parameter manipulation. Requires Contributor or higher WordPress user role.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Version after 8.1
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wp-cycle-text-announcement/trunk/wp-cycle-text-announcement.php#L129
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel
2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins
3. Find 'Wp cycle text announcement' plugin
4. Click 'Update Now' if update available
5. If no update available, deactivate and delete the plugin
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Remove vulnerable shortcode usage
allRemove or replace all instances of the 'cycle-text' shortcode from posts and pages
Restrict user roles
allTemporarily remove Contributor and higher roles from untrusted users
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Deactivate and remove the Wp cycle text announcement plugin immediately
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block SQL injection patterns
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Installed Plugins for 'Wp cycle text announcement' version 8.1 or earlierCheck Version:
wp plugin list --name='wp-cycle-text-announcement' --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is higher than 8.1 or plugin is completely removed📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual database queries from WordPress users
- Multiple failed SQL queries from same user
- Suspicious POST requests containing SQL keywords
Network Indicators:
- Unusual database traffic patterns
- SQL error messages in HTTP responses
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("cycle-text" OR "SQL syntax" OR "database error")