CVE-2025-11177 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in the External Login plugin for WordPress, developed by tbenyon. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.11.2 due to inadequate sanitization and escaping of the 'log' parameter used in SQL queries. Specifically, the plugin fails to properly prepare SQL statements when interfacing with PostgreSQL or Microsoft SQL Server databases configured as external authentication backends. This improper neutralization of special elements (CWE-89) allows unauthenticated attackers to append arbitrary SQL commands to existing queries. Consequently, attackers can extract sensitive information from the database, compromising confidentiality without affecting integrity or availability. The vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5 (high), reflecting the ease of exploitation and significant confidentiality impact. No patches are currently available, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability was reserved on September 29, 2025, and published on October 15, 2025. The plugin is widely used in WordPress environments that rely on external authentication databases, making this a critical concern for affected deployments.

The primary impact of CVE-2025-11177 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored in the external authentication database. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can extract user credentials, personal data, or other confidential information, potentially leading to identity theft, unauthorized access to systems, and further compromise of the affected network. Since the vulnerability does not affect data integrity or availability, it does not directly enable data modification or denial of service. However, the exposure of sensitive authentication data can facilitate subsequent attacks such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within an organization. The vulnerability's remote and unauthenticated nature increases the risk of widespread exploitation, particularly in environments where PostgreSQL or MSSQL are used as external authentication backends for WordPress. Organizations relying on this plugin for user authentication face significant risks to data confidentiality and regulatory compliance, especially in sectors handling sensitive or regulated information.

1. Immediately disable the External Login plugin if it is not essential to your WordPress environment. 2. If the plugin is required, restrict database user permissions to the minimum necessary, avoiding excessive read privileges on sensitive tables. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the 'log' parameter. 4. Monitor database and application logs for unusual query patterns or repeated failed login attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts. 5. Apply strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied parameters, especially those used in SQL queries, until an official patch is released. 6. Consider migrating external authentication to more secure methods or plugins that follow best practices for database interaction, such as using parameterized queries or prepared statements. 7. Stay informed about updates from the plugin vendor and apply patches promptly once available. 8. Conduct regular security assessments and penetration testing focusing on authentication mechanisms and database interactions.