CVE-2025-9199 is a medium severity SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the 'Woo superb slideshow transition gallery with random effect' WordPress plugin developed by gopiplus. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including version 9.1. The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands (CWE-89), specifically due to insufficient escaping of user-supplied input passed via the 'woo-superb-slideshow' shortcode parameter. The plugin fails to properly prepare or parameterize the SQL queries, allowing an attacker with authenticated Contributor-level or higher privileges to inject additional SQL statements into existing queries. This can lead to unauthorized extraction of sensitive data from the underlying database. Notably, the vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond authentication, and the attack vector is remote over the network. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, reflecting a medium severity with high confidentiality impact but no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on October 3, 2025, with the initial reservation date on August 19, 2025. The plugin is widely used on WordPress sites for slideshow gallery functionality, making this a relevant threat for websites using this plugin, especially those allowing Contributor-level user roles.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of data stored in WordPress databases that utilize the affected plugin. Since the attack requires authenticated access at Contributor level or above, organizations with less restrictive user role management or with external contributors are at higher risk. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive customer data, internal content, or configuration information, potentially violating GDPR requirements for data protection and privacy. The vulnerability does not affect data integrity or availability directly but could be leveraged as a foothold for further attacks. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe across sectors such as e-commerce, media, education, and government, the impact could be broad, especially for sites that have not implemented strict access controls or monitoring. The lack of known exploits in the wild provides a window for mitigation before active attacks emerge, but the medium severity score indicates that timely patching or mitigation is important to prevent data breaches.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify if the 'Woo superb slideshow transition gallery with random effect' plugin is installed and determine the version in use. Until an official patch is released, the following specific mitigations are recommended: 1) Restrict Contributor-level and higher user roles to trusted personnel only, minimizing the risk of malicious or compromised accounts exploiting the vulnerability. 2) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the 'woo-superb-slideshow' shortcode parameters. 3) Disable or remove the vulnerable plugin if it is not essential to business operations. 4) Monitor database query logs and WordPress activity logs for unusual or unauthorized access patterns. 5) Employ principle of least privilege for database users connected to WordPress, limiting the scope of data exposure if exploitation occurs. 6) Prepare for rapid patch deployment once the vendor releases an update by subscribing to vulnerability advisories. 7) Conduct user awareness training for site administrators and contributors about the risks of SQL injection and the importance of secure coding and plugin management.