CVE-2025-2940 is a Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) vulnerability classified under CWE-918, affecting the Ninja Tables – Easy Data Table Builder plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 5.0.18 and is triggered via the args[url] parameter. SSRF allows attackers to abuse the server as a proxy to send crafted HTTP requests to arbitrary locations, including internal or protected network resources that are otherwise inaccessible externally. The vulnerability is exploitable without any authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. By exploiting this flaw, attackers can potentially access internal services, retrieve sensitive information, or manipulate internal APIs, which can lead to further compromise such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.2, reflecting a high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and a scope change with partial confidentiality and integrity impact but no availability impact. No official patches or fixes are currently linked, and no public exploits have been reported yet. Given the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of the Ninja Tables plugin for data presentation, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to many websites worldwide. The vulnerability was reserved in March 2025 and published in June 2025 by Wordfence, a reputable security source.

The impact of CVE-2025-2940 is substantial for organizations using the Ninja Tables plugin on WordPress sites. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized internal network reconnaissance, data leakage, and potential manipulation of internal services. This can compromise confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data, including internal APIs, databases, or configuration services that are not exposed externally. Attackers can leverage SSRF to bypass firewalls and access protected resources, potentially facilitating further attacks such as privilege escalation, lateral movement, or deployment of malware inside the network. For organizations relying on WordPress for critical business functions, this vulnerability could lead to data breaches, service disruptions, and reputational damage. The lack of authentication and user interaction requirements makes automated exploitation feasible, increasing the risk of widespread attacks. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the vulnerability’s characteristics make it a prime target for attackers once exploit code becomes available.

Immediate mitigation steps include disabling or removing the Ninja Tables plugin until a vendor patch is released. If removal is not feasible, restrict access to the vulnerable functionality by implementing web application firewall (WAF) rules that block requests containing suspicious or unexpected args[url] parameters. Network-level controls should be enforced to limit the web server’s ability to make outbound HTTP requests, especially to internal IP ranges and sensitive services. Monitoring and logging of outgoing requests from the web server should be enhanced to detect anomalous SSRF attempts. Organizations should subscribe to vendor advisories and apply patches promptly once available. Additionally, employing strict input validation and sanitization on URL parameters can reduce SSRF risks. Segmentation of internal networks and limiting the privileges of the web server process can minimize the potential impact of exploitation. Finally, conducting regular security assessments and penetration testing focused on SSRF vulnerabilities is recommended.