CVE-2025-49854 is a high-severity SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Anh Tran Slim SEO plugin, versions up to and including 4.5.4. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands (CWE-89), allowing an attacker with authenticated access (PR:H) to inject malicious SQL code. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.6, reflecting a network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no user interaction required (UI:N), and a scope change (S:C) where the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component. The impact primarily compromises confidentiality (C:H) by enabling unauthorized reading of sensitive data, with limited impact on availability (A:L) and no impact on integrity (I:N). Exploitation requires authenticated privileges, which limits exposure to users with some level of access to the WordPress environment where Slim SEO is installed. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for data leakage and the widespread use of Slim SEO in WordPress sites. The vulnerability is particularly critical because it can lead to unauthorized disclosure of database contents, which may include sensitive SEO configurations, user data, or other confidential information stored in the database. The absence of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation and monitoring.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, especially for those relying on WordPress websites with the Slim SEO plugin installed. Compromise of SEO plugin data may lead to exposure of sensitive business information, user data, or internal configurations, potentially resulting in reputational damage, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR violations), and loss of customer trust. The confidentiality breach could also facilitate further attacks by revealing database schema or credentials. Given the scope change, attackers might access data beyond the plugin's database tables, increasing the risk of broader data exposure. Organizations in sectors with strict data protection requirements, such as finance, healthcare, and government, are particularly vulnerable to the consequences of such data leaks. Additionally, the requirement for authenticated access means insider threats or compromised user accounts could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability, emphasizing the need for strong access controls and monitoring.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting access to the WordPress admin panel and limiting plugin usage to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of exploitation by authenticated attackers. 2. Implement strict role-based access controls (RBAC) and enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users with administrative or editor privileges to reduce the likelihood of account compromise. 3. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual SQL queries or access patterns indicative of SQL injection attempts, especially from authenticated users. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules targeting SQL injection patterns specific to Slim SEO plugin endpoints to provide an additional layer of defense. 5. Regularly back up website and database contents to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. 6. Stay alert for official patches or updates from the vendor and apply them promptly once available. 7. Conduct security audits and code reviews of the Slim SEO plugin if custom modifications exist, to identify and remediate injection points. 8. Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the Slim SEO plugin with alternative SEO solutions that have no known vulnerabilities until a patch is released.