CVE-2025-4222 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting the Database Toolset plugin developed by neoslab for WordPress. This vulnerability arises from the exposure of sensitive information through backup files that are stored in publicly accessible locations on affected web servers. Specifically, all versions up to and including 1.8.4 of the plugin are vulnerable. The backup files, which contain database data, can be accessed by unauthenticated attackers without requiring any user interaction or privileges. However, the presence of an index file listing these backups means that an attacker would need to perform a brute force or enumeration attack to identify and access these files. Once accessed, the attacker can extract sensitive data from the database backups, leading to a confidentiality breach. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.9, reflecting a network attack vector with high attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and a high impact on confidentiality but no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was published on May 3, 2025, and was assigned by Wordfence. The root cause is the insecure storage and exposure of backup files, which should ideally be protected or inaccessible to unauthorized users. This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive database contents, potentially including user data, credentials, or other confidential information stored within the WordPress database managed by the plugin.

For European organizations using the neoslab Database Toolset plugin on WordPress, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of their data. Exposure of database backups can lead to leakage of personal data, intellectual property, or business-critical information, which could result in regulatory non-compliance, especially under GDPR requirements. The unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information could damage organizational reputation, lead to financial losses, and invite legal penalties. Since the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, the primary concern is data confidentiality. The attack requires no authentication but does require the attacker to locate the backup files via brute force or enumeration, which may limit the scale but not the severity of potential breaches. Organizations with publicly accessible WordPress sites using this plugin are at risk, particularly if backup files are stored in default or predictable locations. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests that immediate widespread exploitation is not yet occurring, but the vulnerability's nature makes it a likely target for opportunistic attackers. European entities in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and e-commerce, where sensitive data is stored, are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of data exposure.

1. Immediately audit all WordPress installations using the neoslab Database Toolset plugin to identify if backup files are stored in publicly accessible directories. 2. Restrict access to backup files by configuring web server rules (e.g., .htaccess for Apache or equivalent for Nginx) to deny public access to backup directories or files. 3. Move backup files to secure, non-web-accessible storage locations, such as outside the web root or on dedicated secure storage services. 4. Implement strong, unpredictable file naming conventions for backups to reduce the risk of brute force discovery. 5. Monitor web server logs for unusual access patterns indicative of brute force or enumeration attempts targeting backup files. 6. Regularly update the Database Toolset plugin once a patch is released by the vendor to fix this vulnerability. 7. Consider disabling or limiting the use of the plugin if backups cannot be secured until a patch is available. 8. Educate site administrators on secure backup handling and the risks of exposing sensitive files. 9. Conduct regular vulnerability scans and penetration tests focusing on backup file exposure and other common WordPress plugin vulnerabilities.