CVE-2025-10185 is an SQL Injection vulnerability classified under CWE-89 found in the NEX-Forms – Ultimate Forms Plugin for WordPress, a popular form-building plugin. The vulnerability is triggered via the 'orderby' parameter in the nf_load_form_entries action, which is insufficiently escaped and lacks proper preparation before being incorporated into SQL queries. This flaw allows an attacker with authenticated Administrator-level access or higher to append arbitrary SQL commands to existing queries, enabling unauthorized extraction of sensitive information from the backend database. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 9.1.6. The attack vector requires network access (remote) and low attack complexity but demands high privileges (administrator or equivalent) and no user interaction. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, as attackers can read sensitive data, but it does not affect data integrity or availability. No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches have been published at the time of disclosure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and parameterized queries in WordPress plugin development. Given the requirement for elevated privileges, exploitation is limited to insiders or compromised accounts with administrative rights, although lower-level users could potentially exploit it if granted elevated permissions by administrators.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to the confidentiality of sensitive data stored in WordPress databases using the NEX-Forms plugin. Attackers with administrative access could extract sensitive information such as user data, form submissions, or configuration details, potentially leading to data breaches or compliance violations under GDPR. The vulnerability does not directly impact data integrity or availability, but the exposure of confidential data could result in reputational damage, regulatory fines, and loss of customer trust. Organizations with high volumes of sensitive form data or those in regulated sectors (e.g., finance, healthcare) are at greater risk. Since exploitation requires administrator-level access, the threat is mitigated by strong internal access controls and monitoring. However, if lower-privileged users are granted elevated permissions improperly, the risk increases. The lack of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the need for proactive mitigation. European entities relying on WordPress for public-facing or internal applications should assess their exposure and implement compensating controls promptly.

1. Immediately audit and restrict user privileges to ensure only trusted personnel have Administrator-level access to WordPress sites using the NEX-Forms plugin. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied parameters, particularly the 'orderby' parameter, to prevent injection of malicious SQL code. 3. Monitor database query logs for unusual or unexpected queries that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL Injection patterns targeting the vulnerable parameter. 5. Regularly update WordPress core, plugins, and themes; monitor the vendor’s communications for patches or security updates addressing this vulnerability. 6. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the NEX-Forms plugin if administrative access cannot be sufficiently secured until a patch is available. 7. Conduct security awareness training for administrators to prevent privilege escalation and credential compromise. 8. Use database user accounts with least privilege necessary for WordPress operations to limit data exposure in case of injection. 9. Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative accounts to reduce risk of account takeover. 10. Perform regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests focusing on WordPress plugins to detect similar issues proactively.