CVE-2025-12984 identifies a SQL Injection vulnerability in the Advanced Ads – Ad Manager & AdSense WordPress plugin, versions up to and including 2.0.15. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special characters in the 'order' parameter used in SQL queries. Specifically, the plugin fails to sufficiently escape or prepare the user-supplied 'order' parameter before incorporating it into SQL statements, violating secure coding practices outlined in CWE-89. This flaw allows an attacker with administrator privileges to append arbitrary SQL commands to existing queries, enabling unauthorized extraction of sensitive data from the backend database. The attack vector requires network access and administrator-level privileges but does not require user interaction. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.9 (medium), reflecting the need for high privileges but the potential for significant confidentiality impact. No patches or public exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed proactively. The plugin is widely used in WordPress environments to manage ad placements and revenue streams, making this vulnerability relevant to organizations relying on this plugin for monetization.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a risk primarily to the confidentiality of sensitive data stored in WordPress databases, including potentially user data, ad campaign details, and financial information. Since exploitation requires administrator access, the threat is heightened in environments where administrator credentials may be compromised or shared. Successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and reputational damage. The impact is particularly significant for companies heavily dependent on digital advertising revenue and those operating e-commerce or content platforms using this plugin. Although the vulnerability does not affect data integrity or availability directly, the exposure of sensitive information can facilitate further attacks or fraud. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits after disclosure.

1. Monitor the vendor’s official channels for a security patch and apply updates immediately upon release. 2. Until a patch is available, restrict administrator access strictly to trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA). 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the 'order' parameter. 4. Conduct regular audits of administrator accounts and review access logs for anomalous activities. 5. Consider applying custom input validation or sanitization on the 'order' parameter at the application or database query layer to neutralize special characters. 6. Backup WordPress databases regularly and ensure backups are securely stored to enable recovery in case of compromise. 7. Educate administrators about the risks of SQL injection and the importance of credential security. 8. Employ principle of least privilege for database users to limit the impact of potential SQL injection exploitation.