CVE-2025-13000 is a SQL Injection vulnerability classified under CWE-89 affecting the db-access WordPress plugin through version 0.8.7. The root cause is the absence of authorization checks in a specific AJAX action, which allows any authenticated user, including those with minimal privileges such as subscribers, to inject malicious SQL queries. This vulnerability enables attackers to exfiltrate sensitive data from the underlying database without requiring elevated privileges or user interaction. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.7 reflects a high severity due to the vulnerability's network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), and the requirement for privileges (PR:L) but no user interaction (UI:N). The scope is changed (S:C) because the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component, and the impact is primarily on confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity (I:N) or availability (A:N). Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant threat. The plugin's widespread use in WordPress sites means that many websites could be vulnerable, especially those that allow subscriber-level access. Attackers could leverage this flaw to extract sensitive information such as user data, credentials, or other confidential content stored in the database. The lack of patch links indicates that a fix may not yet be publicly available, increasing the urgency for mitigation through alternative controls.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk to the confidentiality of sensitive data stored in WordPress databases. Many European companies rely on WordPress for their websites and content management, often with subscriber or low-privilege user roles enabled for community engagement or customer interaction. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of personal data, intellectual property, or business-critical information, potentially violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The breach of confidentiality could result in reputational damage, regulatory fines, and loss of customer trust. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, the primary concern is data leakage. However, attackers gaining database access could use the information for further attacks or social engineering. The requirement for authenticated access limits exposure but does not eliminate risk, as subscriber accounts are commonly created or compromised. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity score indicates that exploitation could be straightforward once an exploit is developed.

1. Monitor for official patches or updates from the db-access plugin developers and apply them immediately once available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict subscriber and other low-privilege user roles from accessing AJAX endpoints related to db-access by implementing custom access controls or using security plugins that limit AJAX actions. 3. Conduct a thorough audit of user roles and permissions on WordPress sites to minimize unnecessary authenticated accounts, especially subscriber roles. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block SQL Injection attempts targeting AJAX endpoints. 5. Enable detailed logging and monitoring of AJAX requests to detect anomalous or suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Educate site administrators on the risks of granting excessive privileges and encourage regular review of installed plugins for vulnerabilities. 7. Consider isolating or sandboxing the WordPress environment to limit the impact of potential data exfiltration. 8. Perform regular database backups and ensure they are securely stored to enable recovery in case of compromise.