CVE-2025-1670 in School Management System Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/15/2025
The School Management System – WPSchoolPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the 'cid' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 2.2.16 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Custom-level access and above, to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-1670 affects the School Management System plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting version 2.2.16 and earlier releases. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of database operations within the WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization practices within the plugin's codebase, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors with legitimate access credentials. The affected parameter 'cid' serves as the primary attack vector, allowing unauthorized data extraction through malicious SQL manipulation techniques.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command as a code injection flaw. The plugin fails to properly escape or parameterize the 'cid' parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries, creating an environment where attackers can manipulate existing database operations. This weakness enables authenticated attackers with custom-level permissions or higher to append arbitrary SQL commands to pre-existing queries, effectively bypassing normal database access controls. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only minimal privileges to exploit, making it accessible to users who should normally have restricted access to sensitive information.
Operational impact assessment reveals that this vulnerability poses significant risks to educational institutions relying on WordPress-based school management systems. Attackers can potentially extract confidential student data, parent information, staff records, and administrative details from the compromised database. The vulnerability's exploitation capability extends beyond simple data retrieval to include potential database modification operations, depending on the attacker's privileges and the underlying database configuration. Organizations utilizing this plugin face increased risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage when such vulnerabilities remain unpatched. The attack surface is particularly wide since the vulnerability affects all versions up to 2.2.16, indicating a prolonged period of exposure for affected systems.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 2.2.17 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of database access patterns to detect anomalous query behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and principle of least privilege access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. Additionally, regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the patched version to ensure that functionality remains intact while addressing the identified security flaw. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities in the future.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and parameterized queries in web application development. The security implications extend beyond the immediate plugin scope, highlighting the broader need for robust security practices in content management systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol, emphasizing the need for proper input sanitization and query preparation. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining current security patches and implementing comprehensive security monitoring practices to protect against persistent threats in educational technology environments.