CVE-2025-52717 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the LifterLMS plugin developed by chrisbadgett, specifically in versions up to and including 8.0.6. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands (CWE-89), allowing an unauthenticated attacker to inject malicious SQL code via user-controllable inputs. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 9.3, reflecting a high-severity issue with network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), and no user interaction needed (UI:N). The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. The impact on confidentiality is high (C:H), while integrity is not affected (I:N), and availability impact is low (A:L). This means an attacker can extract sensitive data from the backend database without modifying data or causing significant service disruption. Since LifterLMS is a popular WordPress learning management system plugin, the vulnerability could allow attackers to exfiltrate sensitive user data, course content, or administrative credentials stored in the database. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that the vulnerability is newly disclosed and may be under active development for exploitation. The vulnerability is critical due to its ease of exploitation over the network without authentication or user interaction, combined with the potential for significant data leakage and impact on confidentiality.

For European organizations using LifterLMS, especially educational institutions, training providers, and enterprises deploying e-learning platforms, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of personal data, including student or employee information, course materials, and potentially payment or authentication credentials. This could result in violations of GDPR and other data protection regulations, leading to legal penalties and reputational damage. The ability to extract sensitive data without authentication increases the threat level, as attackers can operate remotely and anonymously. Additionally, the compromise of LMS data integrity or confidentiality could disrupt learning operations and erode trust in digital education services. Organizations relying on LifterLMS for critical training or compliance programs may face operational and compliance challenges if exploited.

Immediate mitigation steps include monitoring for updates from the LifterLMS vendor and applying patches as soon as they become available. Until a patch is released, organizations should implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules specifically targeting SQL injection patterns related to LifterLMS endpoints. Employing input validation and sanitization at the application or proxy level can help reduce attack surface. Restricting database user permissions to the minimum necessary can limit the impact of a successful injection. Network segmentation to isolate LMS servers and limiting external access to trusted IPs can reduce exposure. Regularly auditing logs for suspicious SQL queries or unusual database activity can aid early detection. Organizations should also review and harden WordPress and plugin configurations, disable unnecessary features, and ensure backups are current to enable recovery if exploitation occurs.