CVE-2026-25544 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability identified in Payload CMS, a free and open-source headless content management system widely used for managing structured content. The flaw exists in versions prior to 3.73.0 and is caused by improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands (CWE-89) when user input is embedded directly into SQL queries involving JSON or richText fields without proper escaping or parameterization. This allows an unauthenticated attacker to conduct blind SQL injection attacks remotely over the network without requiring any privileges or user interaction. Through this attack vector, the adversary can extract sensitive information such as user emails and password reset tokens from the database. This data leakage can facilitate full account takeover without the need for password cracking, severely compromising user accounts and system integrity. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as attackers can manipulate database queries to exfiltrate data or potentially disrupt service. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed and assigned a CVSS v3.1 score of 9.8, reflecting its critical severity. Although no known exploits have been observed in the wild yet, the ease of exploitation and the impact make it a high-risk threat. The issue was resolved in Payload CMS version 3.73.0 by implementing proper input sanitization and escaping mechanisms to prevent SQL injection. Organizations using affected versions must upgrade immediately and consider additional protective measures such as web application firewalls and database activity monitoring.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for unauthorized data access and full account takeover without authentication. Sensitive personal data such as emails and password reset tokens can be exfiltrated, leading to privacy breaches and compliance violations under GDPR. The integrity of content and user accounts can be compromised, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate or delete data, disrupt services, or pivot to further internal attacks. The availability of services relying on Payload CMS could also be impacted if attackers exploit the vulnerability to cause denial of service or corrupt database contents. Organizations in sectors with high regulatory scrutiny, such as finance, healthcare, and government, face increased reputational and legal risks. The vulnerability's network-exploitable nature and lack of required privileges make it a critical threat that could be leveraged in automated attacks targeting vulnerable Payload CMS deployments across Europe.

1. Immediate upgrade of all Payload CMS instances to version 3.73.0 or later to apply the official patch that fixes the SQL injection vulnerability. 2. Implement strict input validation and sanitization on all user-supplied data, especially for JSON and richText fields, to prevent injection of malicious SQL code. 3. Deploy Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules tuned to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting Payload CMS endpoints. 4. Enable database activity monitoring and anomaly detection to identify unusual query patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focused on CMS components to detect residual injection flaws. 6. Review and restrict database user permissions to the minimum necessary, limiting the potential impact of a successful injection. 7. Educate development and operations teams about secure coding practices and the importance of patch management. 8. Monitor threat intelligence feeds for emerging exploits related to this vulnerability to respond promptly if attacks are observed in the wild.