CVE-2025-1986 in Gutentor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
The Gutentor WordPress plugin before 3.4.7 does not sanitize and escape a parameter before using it in a SQL statement, allowing admins to perform SQL injection attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
The Gutentor WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2025-1986 represents a critical SQL injection flaw that affects versions prior to 3.4.7. This vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of user input parameters within database query operations, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by authenticated attackers with administrative privileges. The flaw demonstrates a clear failure in input validation and output escaping mechanisms that are fundamental to secure application development practices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's insufficient sanitization of a parameter before incorporating it into a SQL statement construction process. This pattern aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly included in SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. The vulnerability occurs when administrators interact with the plugin's administrative interfaces, particularly when processing user-supplied data that should be treated as untrusted input. Attackers can manipulate specific parameters to inject malicious SQL commands that execute with the privileges of the affected WordPress administrator account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification. An attacker with administrative access can leverage this SQL injection to escalate privileges, extract sensitive database information including user credentials, modify content, install backdoors, or even compromise the entire WordPress installation. The attack requires only an authenticated administrative session, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses many traditional perimeter security controls. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts usage, as the attack exploits legitimate administrative privileges rather than attempting to compromise credentials through external means.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-1986 should prioritize immediate patching to version 3.4.7 or later, which implements proper parameter sanitization and escaping mechanisms. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit administrative access, enforce multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and conduct regular security audits of installed plugins. The remediation process should include thorough database monitoring for suspicious activities and implementation of web application firewalls to detect and prevent SQL injection attempts. Additionally, administrators should follow the principle of least privilege by ensuring that only necessary personnel have administrative access to WordPress installations, reducing the potential impact of such vulnerabilities.