CVE-2025-52823 is a high-severity SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) found in the ovatheme Cube Portfolio product, affecting versions up to 1.16.8. SQL Injection occurs when an application improperly neutralizes special elements used in SQL commands, allowing an attacker to inject malicious SQL code. This vulnerability enables an attacker with network access and low privileges (PR:L) to execute crafted SQL queries without requiring user interaction (UI:N). The CVSS 3.1 vector indicates the attack can be performed remotely over the network (AV:N) with low attack complexity (AC:L), and it results in a confidentiality breach (C:H) without impacting integrity (I:N) and only causing a low impact on availability (A:L). The scope is changed (S:C), meaning the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially allowing access to broader database contents. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the high confidentiality impact and ease of exploitation. Cube Portfolio is a WordPress plugin used for creating responsive portfolio grids, which may be integrated into websites to showcase projects or products. The vulnerability likely allows attackers to extract sensitive data from the backend database, such as user information or proprietary content, by manipulating SQL queries executed by the plugin. This can lead to data leakage and potential further attacks against the hosting environment or users.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be substantial, especially for businesses relying on WordPress websites utilizing the Cube Portfolio plugin to display portfolios or product showcases. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data, including customer information or internal business data, violating GDPR requirements and potentially resulting in regulatory fines and reputational damage. The confidentiality breach could also facilitate further attacks, such as privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network. Given the plugin’s role in web presentation, availability impact is limited but could still disrupt business operations if the database is partially compromised or if the website is defaced or taken offline. Organizations in sectors like creative agencies, marketing firms, and e-commerce platforms that use Cube Portfolio are particularly at risk. The vulnerability’s ease of exploitation and remote attack vector increase the likelihood of targeted or opportunistic attacks within Europe.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately verify if their WordPress installations use the Cube Portfolio plugin and identify the version in use. Since no patch links are currently provided, organizations should monitor the vendor’s official channels for security updates or patches addressing CVE-2025-52823. In the interim, applying Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules specifically designed to detect and block SQL Injection attempts targeting Cube Portfolio can reduce exposure. Organizations should also audit database access permissions to ensure the plugin operates with the least privilege necessary, limiting the potential damage from exploitation. Regularly reviewing and sanitizing all user inputs and employing parameterized queries or prepared statements in custom code interfacing with the plugin can further reduce risk. Additionally, monitoring web server and database logs for unusual query patterns or access attempts can help detect exploitation attempts early. Finally, organizations should incorporate this vulnerability into their incident response plans and conduct security awareness training for web administrators.