CVE-2025-30876 in Ads Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/01/2025
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in Ads by WPQuads Ads by WPQuads allows SQL Injection. This issue affects Ads by WPQuads: from n/a through 2.0.87.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/01/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-30876 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Ads by WPQuads plugin, a widely used advertising solution for wordpress websites. This security weakness stems from improper neutralization of special elements within SQL commands, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of the plugin ranging from an unspecified starting point through version 2.0.87.1, indicating a broad attack surface that could affect numerous wordpress installations running affected plugin versions.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when user-supplied input containing special SQL characters is not properly sanitized or escaped before being incorporated into database queries. Attackers can exploit this weakness by injecting malicious SQL code through input fields or parameters that are processed by the plugin's backend functionality. This allows threat actors to manipulate database queries, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information, modifying database records, or even executing administrative commands on the affected systems. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a critical weakness in application security that has been consistently ranked among the top ten web application security risks by the OWASP foundation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and potentially achieve full system control of wordpress installations. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability could allow malicious actors to extract user credentials, modify advertising content, inject malicious scripts, or even establish persistent backdoors within the affected websites. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WPQuads is a popular plugin with widespread adoption across various wordpress installations, making the potential impact of this vulnerability significant for both individual website owners and larger organizations relying on wordpress for their digital presence. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, demonstrating how SQL injection attacks can serve as initial access vectors for broader compromise operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-30876 should prioritize immediate patching of affected installations to version 2.0.87.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Website administrators should also implement additional protective measures including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper output escaping to reduce the risk of exploitation. Regular security audits of installed plugins and themes should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring tools to provide additional layers of protection. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping all software components updated and following secure coding practices to prevent injection attacks that can compromise entire web applications and their underlying databases.