CVE-2025-8994 identifies a time-based SQL Injection vulnerability in the WP Project Manager plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to 2.6.26. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special characters in the 'completed_at_operator' parameter, which is used in SQL queries without sufficient escaping or prepared statements. This flaw allows authenticated users with Subscriber-level privileges or higher to inject malicious SQL code into existing queries. The injection is time-based, enabling attackers to infer data by measuring response delays, thus extracting sensitive information from the backend database. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.5 (medium), reflecting the network attack vector, low attack complexity, and the requirement for low privileges but no user interaction. The impact is primarily on confidentiality, as attackers can read sensitive data but cannot modify or delete it, nor disrupt availability. No patches were linked at the time of reporting, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, a common and critical injection flaw category. Organizations using this plugin in WordPress environments should be aware of the risk of data leakage through SQL injection attacks, especially in multi-user setups where subscriber roles are common.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive project management data stored within WordPress databases. Attackers with minimal privileges can exploit the flaw to extract information such as user data, project details, or other confidential records, potentially leading to data breaches and compliance violations under GDPR. The lack of impact on integrity and availability limits the scope of damage but does not diminish the risk of sensitive data exposure. Organizations relying on WP Project Manager for internal collaboration or client projects may face reputational damage and legal consequences if exploited. The vulnerability is particularly concerning for SMEs and agencies that commonly use WordPress plugins for project management and may not have robust security controls. Since exploitation requires authenticated access, insider threats or compromised accounts increase the risk. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the medium severity score indicates that timely patching and monitoring are essential to prevent exploitation.

1. Immediately restrict user roles and permissions to the minimum necessary, especially limiting Subscriber-level users from accessing vulnerable plugin features. 2. Monitor and audit user accounts for suspicious activity to detect potential insider threats or compromised credentials. 3. Apply security patches promptly once released by the plugin vendor; if no patch is available, consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin temporarily. 4. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with SQL Injection detection and prevention capabilities to block malicious payloads targeting the 'completed_at_operator' parameter. 5. Employ database query logging and anomaly detection to identify unusual query patterns indicative of time-based SQL injection attempts. 6. Educate administrators and users about the risks of SQL injection and the importance of strong authentication and access controls. 7. Consider isolating WordPress instances running this plugin in segmented network zones to limit lateral movement if exploited. 8. Regularly update WordPress core and all plugins to reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities. 9. Conduct penetration testing focused on SQL injection vectors in the project management environment to validate defenses. 10. Backup databases frequently and securely to enable recovery in case of data compromise.