CVE-2025-7826 is a medium-severity SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Testimonial plugin for WordPress, developed by laki_patel. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 2.3 of the plugin. It arises due to improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands (CWE-89), specifically through the 'iNICtestimonial' shortcode. The plugin fails to sufficiently escape user-supplied input and does not properly prepare SQL queries, allowing authenticated users with Contributor-level access or higher to inject additional SQL commands. This can lead to unauthorized extraction of sensitive data from the underlying database. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond authentication and can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS v3.1 score is 6.5, reflecting a medium severity with high confidentiality impact but no impact on integrity or availability. No known public exploits are reported yet, and no patches have been linked at the time of publication. The flaw stems from insecure coding practices in handling shortcode parameters, a common attack vector in WordPress plugins. Since Contributors can add content but not publish, the vulnerability expands the attack surface beyond administrators, increasing risk in multi-user WordPress environments. Exploitation could expose sensitive user data or site configuration details stored in the database, potentially aiding further attacks or data breaches.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the laki_patel Testimonial plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to data confidentiality. Many European businesses, including SMEs and large enterprises, rely on WordPress for marketing and customer engagement, often using testimonial plugins to showcase client feedback. An attacker with Contributor-level access—potentially a compromised or malicious internal user or third-party content contributor—could exploit this flaw to extract sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, or business intelligence stored in the database. This could lead to GDPR violations due to unauthorized data disclosure, resulting in regulatory fines and reputational damage. The vulnerability does not affect availability or integrity directly, but the confidentiality breach alone is critical given Europe's strict data protection laws. Additionally, the presence of this vulnerability in a widely used plugin increases the attack surface for targeted attacks against European organizations, especially those with multi-user WordPress environments. The lack of public exploits currently reduces immediate risk, but the ease of exploitation (low attack complexity) and network accessibility mean that threat actors could develop exploits rapidly once the vulnerability is known.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the laki_patel Testimonial plugin, particularly versions up to 2.3. Until an official patch is released, organizations should consider the following mitigations: 1) Restrict Contributor-level access strictly to trusted users and review user permissions to minimize exposure. 2) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the 'iNICtestimonial' shortcode parameter. 3) Employ database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns indicative of injection attempts. 4) If feasible, temporarily disable or remove the Testimonial plugin until a secure version is available. 5) Encourage plugin developers or maintainers to release a patch that properly escapes inputs and uses parameterized queries or prepared statements. 6) Conduct regular security training for content contributors to recognize phishing or social engineering attempts that could lead to account compromise. 7) Monitor logs for anomalous access or query patterns related to the plugin. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, active monitoring, and temporary risk reduction pending patch availability.