CVE-2025-11980 is an SQL Injection vulnerability identified in the Quick Featured Images plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 13.7.3. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands (CWE-89) within the 'delete_orphaned' function. Specifically, the plugin fails to adequately escape user-supplied parameters and does not sufficiently prepare SQL queries, allowing attackers to append arbitrary SQL commands. Exploitation requires authenticated access at Editor level or higher, and the attacker must persuade an author-level or higher user to insert a malicious custom field value, which is then processed by the vulnerable function. This chain enables attackers to extract sensitive information from the database, compromising confidentiality without affecting data integrity or availability. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable over the network with low attack complexity and does not require user interaction beyond the initial malicious input insertion. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk given the widespread use of WordPress and the plugin. The CVSS 3.1 score of 4.9 reflects these factors, highlighting the potential for data leakage in environments where multiple users have elevated privileges. The lack of a patch at the time of reporting necessitates immediate mitigation steps to reduce exposure.

For European organizations, this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored in WordPress databases, including potentially user data, site configuration, or proprietary content. Organizations relying on WordPress for content management, especially those with multiple editors and authors, face increased risk due to the privilege requirements for exploitation. Data leakage could result in reputational damage, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and potential financial loss. The vulnerability does not directly affect data integrity or availability, but the confidentiality breach alone is significant. Attackers exploiting this flaw could gain insights useful for further attacks or social engineering campaigns. Given the prevalence of WordPress in Europe’s digital infrastructure, especially in media, education, and small to medium enterprises, the impact could be widespread if not addressed promptly.

1. Monitor for and apply official patches or updates from kybernetikservices as soon as they become available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict Editor-level and higher privileges to trusted personnel only, minimizing the number of users who can exploit this vulnerability. 3. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on custom fields, potentially using Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) to detect and block suspicious SQL patterns. 4. Conduct regular audits of custom field entries and database queries to identify anomalous or unexpected inputs. 5. Educate authors and editors about the risks of inserting untrusted or suspicious custom field values. 6. Consider disabling or replacing the Quick Featured Images plugin if it is not essential, or isolate it in a staging environment for testing. 7. Employ database activity monitoring tools to detect unusual query patterns indicative of SQL injection attempts. 8. Maintain comprehensive backups and incident response plans tailored to WordPress environments to quickly recover from potential breaches.