CVE-2025-5487 is a high-severity SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) affecting the AutomatorWP – Automator plugin for WordPress, which is used for no-code automations, webhooks, and custom integrations. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 5.2.3 due to improper neutralization of special elements in the 'field_conditions' parameter. Specifically, the plugin fails to sufficiently escape user-supplied input and does not use prepared statements when constructing SQL queries. This flaw enables authenticated users with Administrator-level privileges or higher to inject malicious SQL code into existing queries. The plugin’s configuration can also allow users with Author-level access and above to exploit this vulnerability if such permissions are granted. The attack vector is remote network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), but does require high privileges (PR:H) and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, as attackers can extract sensitive database information, modify data, or disrupt service. Although no public exploits are currently known, the vulnerability’s nature and ease of exploitation by privileged users make it a significant risk. The plugin is widely used in WordPress environments that rely on no-code automation, making the vulnerability relevant to many websites and organizations using this plugin for workflow automation and integrations. The lack of a patch at the time of reporting increases the urgency for mitigation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, especially for those relying on WordPress sites with the AutomatorWP plugin for business-critical automation and integrations. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data such as customer information, internal workflows, or proprietary business logic stored in the database. Data integrity could be compromised, potentially disrupting automated processes or corrupting data. Availability impacts could arise from database disruptions caused by injected queries. Given the plugin’s role in automating workflows, exploitation could cascade into broader operational disruptions. Organizations in sectors with stringent data protection requirements (e.g., finance, healthcare, public sector) face heightened regulatory and reputational risks if data breaches occur. The requirement for administrator-level access limits the attack surface but also means that insider threats or compromised admin accounts could be leveraged. The vulnerability’s presence in a popular WordPress plugin means that many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Europe could be affected, especially those without dedicated security teams or patch management processes.

1. Immediate mitigation involves restricting plugin access strictly to trusted administrators and reviewing user roles to ensure that only necessary personnel have elevated privileges. 2. Disable or limit the use of the AutomatorWP plugin’s features that accept 'field_conditions' input until a patch is available. 3. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the plugin’s endpoints, focusing on the 'field_conditions' parameter. 4. Conduct thorough audits of WordPress user accounts to identify and remove unnecessary administrator or author privileges. 5. Monitor database query logs for unusual or unexpected queries that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Prepare for patch deployment by tracking updates from the vendor and testing patches in staging environments before production rollout. 7. Employ database-level protections such as limiting the database user permissions used by WordPress to only what is necessary, reducing potential damage from injection attacks. 8. Educate administrators and developers about secure coding practices and the risks of SQL injection, emphasizing the importance of input validation and prepared statements in custom integrations.