A critical SQL injection vulnerability (CVE-2025-46248) has been identified in M A Vinoth Kumar’s Frontend Dashboard, affecting versions up to and including 2.2.5. The flaw, rated 9.3 (Critical) on the CVSS scale, allows attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through unneutralized inputs. This vulnerability poses significant risks to systems using the affected plugin, particularly WordPress installations that incorporate Frontend Dashboard functionality.
Technical Overview
The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands, a classic SQL injection scenario. Attackers can exploit this flaw by injecting malicious SQL queries through user-controllable input fields. The National Vulnerability Database (NVD) notes that the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), with high impact on confidentiality (C:H) but low impact on availability (A:L). No integrity impact (I:N) has been reported. The vulnerability affects all versions of Frontend Dashboard up to 2.2.5, with no known workaround other than upgrading to a patched version.
Affected Systems and Impact
The Frontend Dashboard plugin is commonly used in WordPress environments to create administrative interfaces. Systems running vulnerable versions are at risk of complete database compromise, potentially leading to data exfiltration, privilege escalation, or complete system takeover. The high CVSS score reflects the ease of exploitation and severe potential consequences. According to security researchers, this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited without authentication in many common configurations.
Mitigation Strategies
Organizations using Frontend Dashboard should immediately upgrade to version 2.2.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes. For systems that cannot be immediately updated, the following temporary measures can reduce risk:
- Implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block SQL injection patterns
- Restrict database user permissions to minimum required levels
- Monitor logs for unusual database queries or access patterns
Security teams should prioritize patching this vulnerability due to its critical nature and the likelihood of widespread exploitation attempts. The NVD advisory recommends implementing parameterized queries as a long-term solution to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Detection and Response
Security operations teams can detect potential exploitation attempts by monitoring for unusual SQL queries containing keywords like UNION, SELECT, or database-specific function calls. Network intrusion detection systems should be configured to alert on suspicious database access patterns. For organizations that have experienced potential breaches, forensic analysis of database logs and application logs is recommended to determine if data exfiltration occurred.
Broader Context
This vulnerability appears alongside several other significant SQL injection flaws disclosed in April 2025, including issues in ManageWiki (CVE-2025-32956), PostgreSQL (CVE-2025-1094), and Shopware (CVE-2025-27892). The prevalence of SQL injection vulnerabilities continues to be a major security concern, with CWE-89 remaining one of the most common weaknesses in web applications. This trend underscores the importance of secure coding practices and thorough input validation.
Conclusion
CVE-2025-46248 represents a serious threat to organizations using vulnerable versions of Frontend Dashboard. The critical severity rating and straightforward exploitation path make this vulnerability an attractive target for attackers. Immediate patching is the most effective mitigation, supplemented by defensive measures like WAF rules and database monitoring. This incident serves as another reminder of the persistent risks posed by SQL injection vulnerabilities and the need for rigorous application security practices.
References
- “CVE-2025-46248 Detail,” NVD, 2025.
- “CVE-2025-46248,” Feedly CVE Tracker, 2025.
- “CVE-2025-32956 Detail,” NVD, 2025.
- “CVE-2025-32956,” CVE Feed, 2025.
- “CVE-2025-1094: PostgreSQL SQL Injection Vulnerability,” ArmoSec, 2025.
- “PostgreSQL Security Advisory: CVE-2025-1094,” PostgreSQL, 2025.
- “Shopware 6.5.8.13 SQL Injection Vulnerability,” Pentest-Tools, 2025.
- “CVE-2025-2681 Detail,” NVD, 2025.
