# CVE-2022-3254: WordPress Classifieds Plugin – Ad Directory & Listings by AWP Classifieds - SQLi

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2022-3254 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2022-3254

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Limited Exploitation. The vulnerability is known but shows very limited attacker interest or exploitation activity.
- **CVSS score:** 9.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** Strategy11 Classifieds
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection'))
- **Tags:** wordpress, cms

## Description

The WordPress Classifieds Plugin WordPress plugin before 4.3 does not properly sanitise and escape some parameters before using them in a SQL statement via an AJAX action available to unauthenticated users and when a specific premium module is active, leading to a SQL injection

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2022-3254](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2022-3254) is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in the WordPress Classifieds Plugin – Ad Directory & Listings by AWP Classifieds, affecting versions before 4.3. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to exploit improperly sanitized parameters via AJAX actions, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or manipulation of the underlying database when a specific premium module is active.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 30th of March 2026.

CrowdSec network observations suggest that most exploitation of CVE-2022-3254 involves focused reconnaissance to identify viable targets. Attackers typically tailor their campaigns based on system exposure and configuration. It is unlikely that a given attack is accidental.
In addition, according to the CrowdSec network, attack volume against CVE-2022-3254 has dipped slightly compared to the previous week. Although still commonly targeted, the decline suggests a cooling-off period. Long-term relevance remains, but attention is waning.

Attackers exploit the `/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php` endpoint with the `action=awpcp-get-regions-options` parameter, injecting SQL commands via the `parent` parameter to perform unauthenticated SQL injection attacks.

## Timeline

- 2022-10-31: CVE Published. CVE-2022-3254 is published to NVD.
- 2026-03-30: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2022-3254 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2026-04-01: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2022-3254 for the first time.

## References

- https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/546c47c2-5b4b-46db-b754-c6b43aef2660
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2022/CVE-2022-3254.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2022-3254) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2022-3254. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.