CVE-2025-46455 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability identified in the IndigoThemes WP HRM LITE plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability arises due to improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands (CWE-89), allowing an unauthenticated attacker to inject malicious SQL code. The affected versions include all versions up to 1.1, with no specific version exclusions noted. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.3, indicating a critical severity level. The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L) reveals that the attack can be performed remotely over the network without any privileges or user interaction, and it impacts confidentiality with a high impact, while integrity remains unaffected and availability is slightly impacted. The scope is changed, meaning the vulnerability can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The vulnerability allows attackers to extract sensitive data from the underlying database by manipulating SQL queries, potentially exposing confidential information such as user credentials, personal data, or organizational records managed by the WP HRM LITE plugin. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the ease of exploitation and critical impact make it a high-risk issue. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation and monitoring. The vulnerability specifically targets the WP HRM LITE plugin, which is used for human resource management functions within WordPress environments, often containing sensitive employee and organizational data.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those using WordPress with the WP HRM LITE plugin to manage HR data. The exposure of sensitive employee information could lead to severe privacy violations under GDPR regulations, resulting in legal penalties and reputational damage. Confidentiality breaches could include unauthorized access to personal data, payroll information, and other HR-related records. The critical nature of the vulnerability means attackers can exploit it remotely without authentication, increasing the likelihood of widespread exploitation if unpatched. Additionally, the partial impact on availability could disrupt HR operations, affecting business continuity. Given the importance of HR data in compliance and operational contexts, European organizations face both regulatory and operational risks. The vulnerability may also be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks within the network, potentially escalating to more severe compromises.

1. Immediate action should include auditing all WordPress instances for the presence of the WP HRM LITE plugin and identifying affected versions. 2. Since no official patches are currently available, organizations should consider temporarily disabling or uninstalling the WP HRM LITE plugin until a secure update is released. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules specifically designed to detect and block SQL injection attempts targeting the plugin’s endpoints. 4. Conduct thorough input validation and sanitization on all user inputs interacting with the plugin, if custom development is feasible. 5. Monitor logs for unusual database query patterns or access attempts that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Restrict database user permissions associated with WordPress to the minimum necessary, limiting the potential impact of SQL injection. 7. Prepare for rapid deployment of patches once released by IndigoThemes and maintain communication with the vendor for updates. 8. Educate IT and security teams about the vulnerability to ensure prompt detection and response.