CVE-2025-2511 in AHAthat Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/19/2025
The AHAthat Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via the 'id' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.6 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 Administrator-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 • 03/19/2025
The CVE-2025-2511 vulnerability affects the AHAthat Plugin for WordPress, representing a critical time-based SQL injection flaw that compromises database security. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.6, making it a widespread concern for WordPress administrators who have not updated their installations. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and improper SQL query preparation, creating a dangerous attack surface that can be exploited by authenticated users with administrator privileges or higher.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the 'id' parameter which lacks proper escaping mechanisms before being incorporated into SQL queries. When an attacker with administrative access submits malicious input through this parameter, the plugin fails to properly separate user-supplied data from the SQL command structure. This absence of proper input validation allows attackers to manipulate the existing SQL query execution flow, effectively appending additional SQL commands that can be executed within the database context. The time-based nature of the injection means that attackers can infer database contents through response timing variations, making the exploitation process both stealthy and effective.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected plugin. Attackers with administrator-level access can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and system configuration details. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that the attack requires only an existing administrative account, which significantly reduces the attack surface compared to unauthenticated vulnerabilities. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrative privileges are compromised or where insider threats exist, as the attacker can operate with elevated privileges and access the full database content.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including immediate plugin updates to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries, and conducting thorough security audits of administrative accounts. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous SQL query patterns, and access controls should be strictly enforced to minimize the risk of privilege escalation attacks. The remediation process should also include reviewing and hardening database configurations to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, as well as establishing incident response procedures to quickly address any potential compromise scenarios.