Nome del plugin	TARIFFUXX
Type of Vulnerability	Iniezione SQL
CVE Number	CVE-2025-10682
Urgenza	Basso
CVE Publish Date	2025-10-15
Source URL	CVE-2025-10682

Critical update for site owners: TARIFFUXX (<=1.4) — Authenticated Contributor SQL Injection via tariffuxx_configurator Shortcode (CVE-2025-10682)

Data: 2025-10-15
Autore: WP-Firewall Security Team

Note: This advisory is written from the perspective of WP-Firewall — a WordPress firewall and security service provider. It explains the reported vulnerability, the real risk to sites, and how to protect yourself immediately using secure configuration, hardening, and firewall-based virtual patching.

Executive summary

A SQL injection vulnerability (CVE-2025-10682) affects the WordPress plugin TARIFFUXX in versions up to and including 1.4. The flaw is triggered through the tariffuxx_configurator shortcode and can be abused by an authenticated user with Contributor-level privileges or higher. While the vulnerability requires authentication (not a public unauthenticated attack), it remains serious because Contributor accounts are commonly present on many sites that accept guest contributions, community posts, or store-managed content editors.

Although there is no official upstream fix available at the time of this writing, you can and should take immediate steps to protect your site. This advisory explains the technical details at a high level, provides safe remediation steps, and describes how WP-Firewall can help automatically mitigate this issue until a patched plugin release is available.

Why this matters

• SQL injection can allow an attacker to read, modify, or delete data from your database beyond what their account privileges should permit. That includes user data, content, and potentially sensitive configuration values.
• Contributor accounts are widely used: they can create and edit posts, which is sufficient in this case to inject malicious data through shortcode attributes or content that triggers the vulnerable code path.
• Exploits against authenticated vulnerabilities are commonly automated: once proof-of-concept techniques are published, attackers will try to escalate access on thousands of WordPress sites quickly.

Given these factors, site administrators should treat this vulnerability as actionable even if the initial vector requires an authenticated lower-privilege account.

What the vulnerability is — plain language (non-technical summary)

The plugin exposes a shortcode named tariffuxx_configurator. When the site parses that shortcode, the plugin does not correctly validate or sanitize data that may be stored or used to build a database query. An authenticated Contributor can place content (for example, a post, page, or shortcode attribute) that reaches that code path. Because the input is used unsafely inside a database operation, it can be used to manipulate the SQL command (SQL injection), enabling unauthorized access to database information or changes.

Technical high-level details

• Vulnerability type: SQL Injection (OWASP A1: Injection)
• Affected component: tariffuxx_configurator shortcode handler in TARIFFUXX plugin (≤ 1.4)
• Required privilege: Contributor (authenticated)
• CVE: CVE-2025-10682
• Official patch: Not available (N/A) at time of publication
• CVSS: The vulnerability has been assessed with a high impact score (site-specific), though exploitation complexity is partially constrained by the need for an authenticated Contributor account.

Important: This advisory intentionally avoids publishing exploit payloads or exact query fragments. Providing an exploit helps attackers; our goal is to help defenders.

Attack scenarios

1. Malicious or compromised Contributor creates or edits a post, page, or custom content area that includes the tariffuxx_configurator shortcode or supplies crafted shortcode attributes.
2. The plugin’s shortcode handler reads those attributes or user-supplied content and constructs a SQL statement without proper parameterization or escaping.
3. The attacker manipulates the input so that the database executes additional queries or returns data beyond the intended scope — for example, extracting user credentials or site configuration.
4. The attacker can then use the harvested data to escalate privileges, pivot to other accounts, or exfiltrate PII.

Real-world risk depends on your site’s user model, existing users, and whether you allow Contributors to publish or preview content that triggers the vulnerable code.

Immediate mitigations (what to do in the next 5–60 minutes)

If you run a site using TARIFFUXX ≤ 1.4, perform these steps immediately:

1. Disable the plugin (recommended).
   • If you are able, the fastest immediate protection is to deactivate TARIFFUXX from the WordPress admin: Plugins → Installed Plugins → Deactivate.
   • If you cannot access the admin, rename the plugin folder via SFTP or through your host’s file manager: wp-content/plugins/tariffuxx → wp-content/plugins/tariffuxx.disabled
2. Remove or disable the shortcode on public content.
   • To stop shortcode execution globally without disabling the plugin, add this to your active theme’s funzioni.php (or better, a small site-specific plugin):

   <?php
   // Remove the insecure shortcode to prevent execution site-wide until a patch is available
   add_action('init', function() {
       remove_shortcode('tariffuxx_configurator');
   });
   

   • This prevents WordPress from mapping the shortcode tag to the plugin function.
3. Reduce contributor privileges temporarily.
   • If disabling the plugin is not possible, consider changing Contributor accounts to Subscriber until the site is secured. This is a blunt instrument but reduces risk by removing the ability to create/edit content that could trigger the vulnerability.
4. Harden content submission workflows.
   • Turn off front-end post submission features or require editorial review/publishing by Editors or Admins.
   • Restrict who can upload content or use shortcodes.
5. Increase monitoring and logging.
   • Turn on database query logging if possible, and review logs for unusual SELECT, UNION or stacked queries originating from web request contexts.
   • Review recent post edits and content submitted by contributors for suspicious strings or unexpected shortcodes.
6. Block exploit request patterns at the web application layer.
   • Implement a WAF rule that blocks suspicious requests to pages that render the shortcode or block requests containing unusual SQL meta-characters in POST/GET parameters from contributor accounts. WP-Firewall can deploy virtual patch rules to stop the attack without modifying plugin code.

Permanent remediation (when an official patch is available)

When the plugin vendor publishes a fixed version:

1. Test the updated plugin in a staging environment.
2. Apply the plugin update to production after successful testing.
3. Re-enable any shortcodes you removed previously only after verifying the new version addresses the vulnerability.
4. Review and rotate any secrets that may have been exposed as a result of possible exploitation (API keys, insecure database users, etc.).

How to validate whether your site was exploited

• Audit recent database activity: look for unexpected rows, new users, or changes to core options (siteurl, home, admin email).
• Check users: Are there new Administrator or other unexpected users? SQL injection may lead to account creation.
• Look through post revisions and content edits created by Contributor accounts — check for injected shortcodes, base64 blobs, or foreign links.
• Inspect uploads: an attacker may upload web shells or backdoor files using an exploited flow. Scan wp-content/caricamenti E contenuto wp for recently modified PHP files.
• Use filesystem integrity monitoring or WP-Firewall file-scanner features to check for altered plugin/core files.

If you find indicators of compromise, treat the site as potentially compromised:

• Take it offline (maintenance mode).
• Restore known clean backups if available.
• Conduct a forensic timeline: server logs, access logs, database logs.
• Change passwords for all admin-level accounts and rotate any API tokens stored in the database or filesystem.
• Consider professional incident response for complex cases.

Recommended developer-level fixes (for plugin authors and site maintainers)

Plugin authors should follow these secure coding guidelines to avoid similar vulnerabilities:

1. Never interpolate untrusted data into SQL. Use parameterized queries via $wpdb->prepare or the appropriate database abstraction.
   Esempio:

<?php
global $wpdb;
// Unsafe: building SQL by concatenating untrusted input
// $results = $wpdb->get_results("SELECT * FROM {$wpdb->prefix}table WHERE id = $user_input");

// Safe:
$results = $wpdb->get_results(
    $wpdb->prepare(
        "SELECT * FROM {$wpdb->prefix}table WHERE id = %d",
        intval($user_input)
    )
);

2. Sanitize shortcode attributes and validate types. Use sanitize_text_field, absint, floatval, ecc.

$atts = shortcode_atts( array( 'plan' => '' ), $atts, 'tariffuxx_configurator' );
$plan = sanitize_text_field( $atts['plan'] );

3. Use capability checks where appropriate.
   • If the shortcode expects only admins to configure something, check current_user_can('manage_options') before performing privileged operations.
4. Avoid using raw input stored in the database for later SQL construction without validation.
5. Use prepared statements for any dynamic queries. Walk the codebase and convert unsafe concatenation to $wpdb->prepare().

Site maintainers who cannot modify plugin code should use the short-term mitigations described earlier.

How WP-Firewall can help you now

As a WordPress firewall and security provider, WP-Firewall provides multiple layers of protection that are effective even when an official plugin fix is not yet available:

• Managed WAF rules that target the tariffuxx_configurator shortcode request patterns and known SQL injection indicators. These rules can block malicious requests coming from authenticated accounts attempting to exploit the flaw.
• Virtual patching: our managed rules can be deployed to your site within minutes to prevent SQL injection attempts, without editing plugin code or waiting for vendor updates.
• Malware scanning and detection: continuous scanning to detect unusual changes to files, suspicious backdoors, or web shell artifacts that can follow exploitation.
• Role-based monitoring: alerts on suspicious activity from Contributor accounts (sudden mass content edits, uploads, or shortcode usage that matches exploit patterns).
• Incident response playbooks and guided remediation steps to get you back to a clean, secure state.

If you’re evaluating options, our free Basic plan includes essential managed firewall features, unlimited bandwidth, a WAF, malware scanning, and mitigations for OWASP Top 10 risks — which covers protections such as this SQL injection class.

Hardening checklist — practical steps you can take beyond the immediate fix

1. Enforce strong password policies and enable two-factor authentication for all users with elevated privileges.
2. Limit number of Contributor accounts and audit them regularly.
3. Adopt the principle of least privilege: grant users just the capabilities they need.
4. Implement an approvals workflow so Contributor-submitted content is reviewed by an Editor before publishing.
5. Use role separation: avoid using the same account for administrative tasks and content editing.
6. Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated as a matter of routine.
7. Maintain regular offsite backups (database + files) and verify restore procedures.
8. Use file and database integrity monitoring to spot unexpected changes.
9. Monitor logs for odd patterns — spikes in 500 responses, slow queries, or unusual database errors that could indicate injection attempts.
10. Restrict access to wp-admin and wp-login.php by IP range where practical, and consider adding rate limiting.

How to harden Contributor workflows (practical tips)

• Configure a staging site for contributor testing; do not allow arbitrary shortcodes from contributors to run on production.
• Use a plugin or custom code to sanitize or remove disallowed shortcodes from content submitted by contributors.
• Implement editorial review plugins that force review and approval before content becomes publicly accessible.

Sample snippet to prevent shortcode usage by Contributors at save time (sanitize on save):

add_filter( 'content_save_pre', function( $content ) {
    // Remove shortcode tags from content submitted by contributors
    if ( current_user_can( 'edit_posts' ) && ! current_user_can( 'publish_posts' ) ) {
        // remove_shortcode will prevent execution, but we also strip the tag text
        $content = preg_replace( '/\[tariffuxx_configurator[^\]]*\](?:.*?\[/tariffuxx_configurator\])?/is', '', $content );
    }
    return $content;
} );

This removes the shortcode block from content on save when the editor is a contributor (non-publish-capable).

Monitoring & detection recommendations

• Configure alerts for database errors containing SQL keywords (SELECT, UNION) that appear in page requests.
• Use security logging to correlate user IDs with content changes; suspicious content from a Contributor should trigger an alert.
• Monitor incoming requests to pages that render the shortcode; sudden increases in POST traffic or long query strings are red flags.

Incident response playbook — step-by-step (concise)

1. Isolate: Put site into maintenance mode or temporary offline mode if compromise is suspected.
2. Snapshot: Preserve logs and current database and filesystem snapshots for forensic analysis.
3. Contain: Deactivate vulnerable plugin and disable shortcodes; revoke suspicious sessions.
4. Investigate: Review logs, identify injection indicators and impacted records or files.
5. Clean: Remove backdoors, malicious files, and compromised accounts. Restore from a clean backup if necessary.
6. Recover: Patch or update plugins after testing; rotate credentials; re-enable services carefully.
7. Learn: Review gap that allowed exploitation; update security policies and monitoring.

Why authenticated vulnerabilities are still dangerous

Many administrators assume “if it’s authenticated, it’s safe.” That’s incorrect. Lower-privileged authenticated users are often present by design — contributors, external authors, or content managers. Attackers frequently target these accounts (by phishing, credential stuffing, or social engineering) to use them as stepping stones for higher-value attacks. Vulnerabilities that can be triggered by those accounts are therefore high-risk in practice.

Responsible disclosure and vendor coordination

If you are a plugin author, maintain secure disclosure channels and respond quickly when vulnerabilities are reported. If you are a site owner, ask your vendors whether they have an active disclosure program and monitor security advisories for your plugin inventory.

Developer checklist for plugin vendors to prevent similar issues

• Implement static analysis and automated security testing in your CI pipeline focusing on: SQL query building, use of $wpdb->prepare, and sanitization.
• Add unit tests that assert that user-provided attributes cannot alter SQL structure.
• Offer a patch release quickly when a vulnerability is found and communicate clearly with users.

User education — what to tell content contributors

• Do not paste random scripts or shortcodes into posts.
• Avoid using third-party shortcodes you do not understand; send them to an editor for review.
• Use unique strong passwords and enable 2FA.

A note on virtual patching and WAFs

Virtual patching (a WAF-based mitigation) is a pragmatic approach when a plugin or theme patch is not yet available. It works by intercepting and blocking malicious requests that match known exploit patterns before they hit the vulnerable code. Virtual patches can be applied centrally and quickly, and they help buy time while you perform careful testing and apply the vendor’s fix when released.

At WP-Firewall we maintain a rule set that covers common SQL injection patterns, unusual parameter combinations, and known vulnerable function signatures. These rules are tuned to reduce false positives while providing strong protection.

Example safe response strategy for hosting providers

Hosting providers can help site owners by:

• Temporarily restricting Contributor posting features for tenants with the vulnerable plugin installed.
• Pushing WAF rules to tenant sites automatically where permissioned.
• Offering one-click plugin deactivation or shortcodes removal for affected installations.

How to decide whether to disable the plugin or remove it

• If the plugin is not core to your site’s operation, disable it immediately.
• If the functionality is essential, implement virtual patching and restrict contributor actions until an official fix is available and tested.
• If you have reliable backups and a staging environment, test plugin updates there first, then update production.

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Closing recommendations — succinct checklist

• If you use TARIFFUXX ≤ 1.4: disable plugin or remove shortcode immediately.
• Reduce contributor privileges or restrict content workflows until patched.
• Deploy WAF / virtual patching to block exploit attempts now.
• Audit logs, run malware scans, and verify backups.
• Apply vendor patch as soon as it is available and tested.

Final words

Authenticated SQL injection vulnerabilities like CVE-2025-10682 are an important reminder that security is a full-stack discipline: code hygiene, user management, monitoring, and a layered defensive posture all matter. If you need assistance, WP-Firewall can help quickly mitigate threats with firewall rules and virtual patches so you have time to perform careful updates and recovery without risking data loss or compromise.

Stay safe, and prioritize quick containment combined with long-term fixes. If you want help applying temporary virtual patches or reviewing your configuration, visit our signup link for a free Basic plan and support: https://my.wp-firewall.com/buy/wp-firewall-free-plan/