CVE-2025-5287 Scanner

The Likes and Dislikes Plugin for WordPress is used by website administrators to enable users to rate and express their preferences on various posts or content through a simple like or dislike button. It is mainly used on blogging platforms or content-heavy websites aiming to enhance user interaction and engagement. The plugin is suitable for non-technical users due to its user-friendly setup and integration with WordPress environments. It helps website owners collect data about user preferences, which can inform content strategy and increase visitor retention. The idiosyncratic nature of the Likes and Dislikes Plugin makes it appealing for interactive platforms looking to foster community feedback. Given WordPress's widespread use, the plugin can be employed in diverse contexts, from personal blogs to larger, more complex websites.

SQL Injection (SQLi) is a significant security vulnerability that allows an attacker to influence the SQL queries an application makes to its database. In the case of the Likes and Dislikes Plugin, this vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and preparation of SQL queries, particularly with the 'post' parameter. This lack of security controls enables unauthenticated attackers to potentially append malicious SQL code to existing queries. Exploiting such a vulnerability may allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in the database. This vulnerability poses a serious security risk, particularly because it does not require user authentication to be exploited, increasing the ease with which malicious actors can execute attacks. Therefore, addressing this vulnerability promptly is critical for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of data within affected systems.

The technical details of this vulnerability involve the 'post' parameter used in the HTTP POST request to the 'admin-ajax.php' endpoint. The parameter lacks adequate escaping and input validation, allowing attackers to insert SQL code that interacts with the backend database. The provided sample code demonstrates a time-based blind SQL injection attack, where the condition 'AND (SELECT 1234 FROM (SELECT(SLEEP(6)))a)' delays the query response, indicating the injection's success. The plugin's failure to sanitize the 'post' parameter properly allows such injection attacks to occur. This issue underscores the critical need for designing input validation mechanisms that escape input from untrusted sources before processing. The lack of such measures makes the plugin susceptible to attacks without prior authentication or privilege escalation. Awareness and documentation of such technical flaws are essential for preventing possible exploitation and data breaches.

Exploiting this vulnerability could lead to several severe consequences. Unauthorized attackers might be able to access and manipulate sensitive data stored in the database, including user information and site configurations. This access could potentially allow attackers to perform additional attacks, such as altering user roles, changing site content, or even executing denial-of-service attacks by overwhelming the system. In addition, the compromise of database integrity might lead to corruption or loss of data, affecting site functionality and reliability. Consequently, websites using the plugin may experience reputational damage, loss of user trust, and financial repercussions from necessary data recovery operations. Implementing stringent security measures and regular vulnerability assessments is crucial to preventing such outcomes.

REFERENCES

• https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/inprosysmedia-likes-dislikes-post/trunk/inprosysmedia-likes-dislikes-post.php#L76
• https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/ad19205d-d355-45d8-be5b-f8005459a8c7?source=cve
• https://github.com/XiaomingX/data-cve-poc/blob/main/2025/CVE-2025-5287/README.md