CVE-2025-2939 is a vulnerability identified in the Ninja Tables – Easy Data Table Builder plugin for WordPress, developed by techjewel. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 5.0.18. The core issue is a PHP Object Injection vulnerability stemming from unsafe deserialization of untrusted input, specifically via the args[callback] parameter. Deserialization vulnerabilities occur when untrusted data is processed by the application’s deserialization routines without adequate validation, allowing attackers to inject malicious objects. In this case, unauthenticated attackers can supply crafted input to the args[callback] parameter, leading to injection of PHP objects. The presence of a Property Oriented Programming (POP) chain within the plugin’s codebase enables attackers to invoke arbitrary functions during deserialization. However, the exploit is limited in scope because it does not allow attackers to supply parameters to these functions; only single functions can be called without arguments. This limitation reduces the potential impact but does not eliminate the risk of unauthorized code execution or manipulation of application logic. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.6, categorized as medium severity, reflecting the balance between the unauthenticated remote attack vector and the limited functional impact due to the restricted function call capabilities. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or updates have been linked yet. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-502, which covers deserialization of untrusted data leading to potential code injection or execution. Given that Ninja Tables is a WordPress plugin, this vulnerability primarily affects websites using this plugin for data table management, which could be leveraged to compromise website integrity, confidentiality, or availability if exploited.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability depends largely on the extent of Ninja Tables plugin usage within their WordPress environments. Organizations relying on this plugin for data presentation or management on their websites may face risks including unauthorized code execution, data manipulation, or service disruption. Although the exploit’s impact is limited by the inability to pass parameters to arbitrary functions, attackers could still leverage this to perform malicious actions such as altering website content, defacing pages, or executing limited commands that could facilitate further attacks. This could lead to reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and potential regulatory non-compliance under GDPR if personal data is affected. Additionally, websites compromised through this vulnerability could be used as attack vectors for phishing or malware distribution campaigns targeting European users. The unauthenticated nature of the vulnerability increases risk as attackers do not require credentials or user interaction, enabling remote exploitation. However, the requirement for high attack complexity (AC:H) somewhat mitigates the ease of exploitation. Overall, the threat poses a moderate risk to European organizations, especially those with public-facing WordPress sites using Ninja Tables, including SMEs and larger enterprises in sectors such as e-commerce, media, and public services.

1. Immediate mitigation should involve auditing all WordPress sites within the organization to identify installations of the Ninja Tables – Easy Data Table Builder plugin. 2. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin on non-critical sites to eliminate exposure. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the args[callback] parameter, particularly those containing serialized PHP objects or unusual payloads. 4. Restrict access to WordPress admin and plugin endpoints via IP whitelisting or VPN to reduce exposure to unauthenticated attacks. 5. Monitor web server and application logs for anomalous deserialization attempts or unusual function calls that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Educate web administrators and developers about the risks of unsafe deserialization and encourage secure coding practices, including input validation and use of safe serialization methods. 7. Once a patch or updated plugin version is available, prioritize timely updates and test them in staging environments before deployment. 8. Consider implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers and other security headers to mitigate potential secondary exploitation vectors. 9. Regularly back up website data and configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise.