CVE-2025-11452 identifies a SQL Injection vulnerability in the Asgaros Forum plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to 3.1.0. The root cause is insufficient escaping and lack of proper query preparation for the user-supplied '$_COOKIE['asgarosforum_unread_exclude']' parameter. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to append arbitrary SQL commands to existing queries executed by the plugin. Because the injection point is within a cookie, exploitation does not require authentication or user interaction, increasing the attack surface. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored in the backend database, such as user credentials, private messages, or other forum data. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting a network attack vector with low complexity and no privileges or user interaction needed, impacting confidentiality but not integrity or availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be considered a significant risk for affected installations. The plugin is widely used in WordPress forums, making many sites potentially vulnerable until patched or mitigated.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to the confidentiality of sensitive data managed within Asgaros Forum installations. Attackers could extract user data, private communications, or administrative information, potentially leading to privacy violations and compliance issues under GDPR. While the vulnerability does not directly impact data integrity or availability, the exposure of confidential information can damage organizational reputation and trust. Organizations relying on Asgaros Forum for community engagement or internal communication may face operational disruptions if data breaches occur. The ease of exploitation without authentication increases the likelihood of automated attacks targeting vulnerable sites. Given the widespread use of WordPress and its plugins across Europe, especially in small to medium enterprises and community organizations, the threat surface is significant. Failure to address this vulnerability could result in regulatory penalties and loss of user confidence.

Immediate mitigation should focus on applying any available patches from the Asgaros Forum developers once released. Until a patch is available, organizations should implement web application firewalls (WAFs) with robust SQL Injection detection and prevention rules, specifically monitoring and sanitizing cookie inputs. Restricting or validating the 'asgarosforum_unread_exclude' cookie on the server side can reduce exploitation risk. Administrators should audit their WordPress environments to identify installations using Asgaros Forum and assess exposure. Disabling or temporarily removing the plugin may be necessary in high-risk environments. Additionally, monitoring logs for suspicious SQL query patterns or unusual database access can help detect exploitation attempts. Educating site administrators on the risks of unsanitized input and enforcing least privilege database access can limit potential damage. Regular backups and incident response plans should be updated to address potential data breaches stemming from this vulnerability.