CVE-2025-12197 is a blind SQL Injection vulnerability identified in the WordPress plugin The Events Calendar, specifically affecting versions 6.15.1.1 through 6.15.9. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands (CWE-89), particularly due to insufficient escaping and lack of prepared statements for the user-supplied 's' parameter. This parameter is typically used for search functionality within the plugin. Because the input is not properly sanitized, an unauthenticated attacker can craft malicious input that appends additional SQL queries to the original query executed by the plugin. This enables the attacker to perform blind SQL Injection attacks, which allow extraction of sensitive information from the backend database without direct visibility of query results. The vulnerability does not require any authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5 (high), reflecting the ease of exploitation (network vector, no privileges required, no user interaction) and the high impact on confidentiality. The vulnerability does not impact integrity or availability directly but compromises sensitive data confidentiality. No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date (November 5, 2025). The plugin is widely used for event management on WordPress sites, making this a significant concern for websites that rely on it for public or private event data management.

For European organizations, the exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored in the WordPress database, including potentially user data, event details, and other confidential content managed through The Events Calendar plugin. This data leakage could result in privacy violations under GDPR, reputational damage, and potential regulatory penalties. Since the vulnerability is exploitable remotely without authentication, attackers can target vulnerable websites en masse, increasing the risk of large-scale data breaches. Organizations in sectors such as event management, education, government, and cultural institutions that use this plugin are particularly at risk. Additionally, the exposure of internal data could facilitate further attacks, such as phishing or social engineering campaigns. The lack of impact on integrity or availability means the site may continue to function normally, potentially delaying detection of the breach. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the high severity score indicates that exploitation could have serious consequences if weaponized.

1. Immediate action should be taken to update The Events Calendar plugin to a patched version once it becomes available from the vendor. Monitor vendor announcements closely. 2. Until an official patch is released, implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the 's' parameter, including typical SQL injection payloads and anomalous query strings. 3. Employ input validation and sanitization at the application level to restrict the characters allowed in the 's' parameter, ideally limiting input to alphanumeric characters and safe symbols. 4. Review and harden database permissions to ensure the WordPress database user has the least privileges necessary, limiting the potential impact of SQL injection. 5. Conduct thorough security scanning and penetration testing focused on SQL injection vectors in the affected plugin. 6. Monitor logs for unusual database query patterns or repeated failed attempts that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Educate site administrators about the risk and encourage prompt patching and security best practices. 8. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the plugin if immediate patching is not feasible and the risk is unacceptable. 9. Use parameterized queries and prepared statements in custom code interacting with the plugin or database to prevent injection risks. 10. Regularly back up website data to enable recovery in case of compromise.