CVE-2025-48280 is a high-severity SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) affecting the AutomatorWP plugin developed by Ruben Garcia. AutomatorWP is a WordPress automation plugin that enables users to create workflows connecting various plugins and services. The vulnerability allows an attacker with high privileges (PR:H) to perform Blind SQL Injection attacks remotely (AV:N) without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands, enabling malicious input to manipulate backend database queries. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.6 reflects the high confidentiality impact (C:H), no integrity impact (I:N), and low availability impact (A:L), with a scope change (S:C) indicating that exploitation can affect resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability affects all versions of AutomatorWP up to 5.2.1.3. Given the nature of Blind SQL Injection, attackers can extract sensitive data from the database by observing application behavior, potentially exposing confidential information such as user credentials, personal data, or business-critical information stored in the WordPress database. The requirement for high privileges suggests that exploitation is limited to authenticated users with elevated rights, such as administrators or editors, which somewhat limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments with multiple users or compromised accounts. The lack of an available patch at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation and monitoring. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and parameterized queries in plugin development to prevent injection flaws.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the AutomatorWP plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive data stored within their websites. Given the plugin’s role in automating workflows, exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, potentially violating GDPR requirements for data protection and privacy. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and government, which often rely on WordPress for public-facing or internal portals, could face reputational damage, regulatory fines, and operational disruptions if attackers leverage this vulnerability to exfiltrate personal or business-critical data. The requirement for high privileges reduces the likelihood of external attackers exploiting the flaw directly; however, insider threats or compromised administrator accounts could be leveraged to launch attacks. Additionally, the scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the impact could extend beyond the plugin itself, potentially affecting other integrated systems or data repositories. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently offers some respite, but the public disclosure of the vulnerability increases the risk of future exploitation attempts. European organizations must consider the potential for targeted attacks, especially given the strategic importance of data privacy and cybersecurity in the region.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting administrative access to trusted personnel only and enforcing strong authentication mechanisms, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), to reduce the risk of privilege escalation or account compromise. 2. Monitor and audit user activities within WordPress, especially those with high privileges, to detect any anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 3. Until a patch is released, consider disabling or uninstalling the AutomatorWP plugin if feasible, particularly on high-risk or sensitive environments. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting AutomatorWP endpoints. 5. Conduct thorough input validation and sanitization on any custom workflows or integrations that interact with AutomatorWP to minimize injection vectors. 6. Stay informed about vendor updates and apply security patches promptly once available. 7. Perform regular backups of WordPress sites and databases to enable recovery in case of data compromise. 8. Engage in penetration testing and vulnerability scanning focused on SQL injection to proactively identify and remediate similar issues.