CVE-2025-22693 in Contest Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/03/2025
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in Contest Gallery Contest Gallery allows SQL Injection. This issue affects Contest Gallery: from n/a through 25.1.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-22693 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Contest Gallery plugin, a widely used WordPress gallery management solution. This weakness stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly neutralize special elements within SQL commands, creating an exploitable vector for malicious actors to manipulate database queries. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions ranging from an unspecified starting point through 25.1.0, indicating a potentially long-standing issue that has persisted across multiple releases. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code through improperly validated user inputs, potentially compromising the entire database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection as a direct result of insufficient input sanitization and improper query construction. When user-supplied data is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization, attackers can manipulate the intended query execution flow. In the context of Contest Gallery, this occurs when gallery parameters, user inputs, or configuration values are not adequately sanitized before being incorporated into database operations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique within the credential access and execution domains, as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized data access, modification, or complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform arbitrary database operations including data extraction, modification, or deletion. An attacker could potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress environment, access sensitive user information, or even gain shell access to the underlying server if the database credentials are sufficiently privileged. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions suggests that the plugin developers may have overlooked fundamental security practices in their input handling mechanisms, creating a sustained risk for all affected installations.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to the latest secure version, as this represents the most effective solution to address the root cause. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout their applications to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other components. Additionally, database access should be restricted to minimal required privileges, and web application firewalls should be configured to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in the broader application ecosystem, particularly focusing on areas where user inputs are processed and incorporated into database operations.