CVE-2025-12502 is a SQL injection vulnerability identified in the WordPress plugin attention-bar, affecting versions through 0.7.2.1. The root cause is the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape a specific parameter before incorporating it into an SQL statement. This improper handling allows an attacker with administrator privileges to inject malicious SQL code, potentially exposing sensitive data stored in the database. The vulnerability requires high privilege (administrator) access but does not require user interaction, making it a direct threat if an attacker gains or already holds such privileges. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.8 (medium severity), reflecting a high impact on confidentiality but no impact on integrity or availability. The scope is classified as changed, indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly. The CWE-89 classification confirms this is a classic SQL injection issue, which can be exploited to read unauthorized data or execute unauthorized queries. Given the widespread use of WordPress and its plugins, this vulnerability poses a risk to websites relying on attention-bar for functionality, especially those with multiple administrators or complex user roles.

For European organizations, the primary impact is the potential exposure of sensitive data stored in WordPress databases through unauthorized SQL queries. Since the vulnerability requires administrator privileges, the risk is elevated if internal accounts are compromised or if malicious insiders exist. Confidentiality breaches could lead to data leaks involving customer information, intellectual property, or internal communications, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. Although integrity and availability are not directly impacted, attackers could leverage the access gained through SQL injection to further escalate privileges or pivot to other systems. Organizations with public-facing WordPress sites using the attention-bar plugin are at risk of reputational damage and regulatory penalties if data is exposed. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits after public disclosure. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, it is not trivially exploitable without administrator access, somewhat limiting the attack surface.

1. Immediately audit and restrict administrator access to the WordPress environment to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of privilege misuse. 2. Monitor database logs and WordPress activity logs for unusual or suspicious SQL queries that could indicate attempted exploitation. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules tailored to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting the attention-bar plugin parameters. 4. Regularly update WordPress core and plugins; although no patch is currently available, stay alert for vendor updates or security advisories addressing this vulnerability. 5. Employ the principle of least privilege by limiting plugin usage and disabling or removing unnecessary plugins, including attention-bar if not essential. 6. Conduct internal security training to raise awareness among administrators about the risks of SQL injection and secure coding practices. 7. Consider deploying database-level protections such as query parameterization or stored procedures where feasible to reduce injection risk. 8. Prepare incident response plans specifically for web application compromises involving SQL injection to enable rapid containment and remediation.