CVE Alert: CVE-2025-4203 – tomdever – wpForo Forum
CVE-2025-4203
The wpForo Forum plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to error‐based or time-based SQL Injection via the get_members() function in all versions up to, and including, 2.4.8 due to missing integer validation on the ‘offset’ and ‘row_count’ parameters. The function blindly interpolates ‘row_count’ into a ‘LIMIT offset,row_count’ clause using esc_sql() rather than enforcing numeric values. MySQL 5.x’s grammar allows a ‘PROCEDURE ANALYSE’ clause immediately after a LIMIT clause. Unauthenticated attackers controlling ‘row_count’ can append a stored‐procedure call, enabling error‐based or time‐based blind SQL injection that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database.
AI Summary Analysis
Risk verdict
High risk for exposed sites with the wpForo Forum plugin vulnerable to unauthenticated SQL injection; patch promptly, as exploitation can enable data exfiltration without user interaction.
Why this matters
Unauthenticated harm means attackers can remotely trigger error-based or time-based SQLi to read sensitive database contents. In environments with valuable user data, credentials, or forum content, this can lead to data breaches and compliance concerns. The impact is restricted to the database, but the attacker’s access is unrestricted by user login.
Most likely attack path
An external actor targets a public WordPress site hosting wpForo <= 2.4.8, sending crafted requests to get_members with non-numeric offset/row_count. The vulnerability enables error-based or time-based SQL injection via LIMIT offset,row_count, potentially allowing data enumeration or extraction without credentials. No user interaction or privileges are required, but successful exploitation hinges on having the vulnerable plugin reachable from the internet.
Who is most exposed
Public-facing WordPress deployments that run wpForo and have not been updated are at risk, especially on shared or SME hosting where plugin updates may be delayed or overlooked.
Detection ideas
- Unusual or lengthy database queries logged by MySQL related to get_members and LIMIT usage.
- Web server logs show repeated, unauthenticated requests to wpforo Members.php with odd offset/row_count values.
- Application/server errors or stack traces mentioning SQL syntax near LIMIT or PROCEDURE ANALYSE.
- WAF alerts or SIEM events flagging SQLi-like patterns in WPforo endpoints.
Mitigation and prioritisation
- Patch: upgrade to wpForo 2.4.9 or later; verify the vendor patch is applied across affected instances.
- Blocking/controls: temporarily disable wpForo endpoints or restrict access until patched; implement WAF rules to block anomalous LIMIT parameters.
- Least privilege: ensure the WordPress DB user has minimal privileges and cannot execute dangerous procedures.
- Change management: test in staging, schedule a controlled production update.
- If exposed or compromise suspected, treat as high priority and perform rapid post-patch validation and monitoring.
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