CVE-2025-26976 Overview
CVE-2025-26976 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Aldo Latino PrivateContent WordPress plugin. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands [CWE-89]. All versions of PrivateContent up to and including 8.11.4 are affected.
Authenticated attackers with low privileges can inject malicious SQL statements through the plugin. Successful exploitation exposes sensitive database contents and can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component due to a scope change. The vulnerability is exploitable over the network without user interaction.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can extract sensitive WordPress database contents, including user credentials and private content, by injecting crafted SQL payloads through the PrivateContent plugin.
Affected Products
- Aldo Latino PrivateContent plugin for WordPress
- All versions from n/a through 8.11.4
- WordPress installations using the private-content plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-15 - CVE-2025-26976 published to NVD
- 2026-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-26976
Vulnerability Analysis
The PrivateContent plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to break out of the intended query context and inject arbitrary SQL commands. The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-89], Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.
The scope change indicator in the CVSS vector signals that successful exploitation impacts resources beyond the vulnerable plugin. Attackers can access data stored across the entire WordPress database, including tables managed by other plugins or core WordPress functionality.
Low-privileged authenticated access is required, which lowers the barrier for exploitation on sites that allow subscriber or member registration. The PrivateContent plugin is designed to gate access to content for registered members, making it likely to be deployed on sites with open registration.
Root Cause
The root cause is the construction of SQL queries through string concatenation or insufficiently parameterized queries. User-controlled input reaches the database layer without being escaped through the wpdb->prepare() method or equivalent sanitization routines. Special characters such as single quotes and SQL keywords are not neutralized before query execution.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker submits a crafted request to a vulnerable plugin endpoint. The injected payload is appended to a backend SQL statement, altering the query logic. The attacker can extract data using UNION SELECT statements, conditional time-based payloads, or boolean-based blind injection techniques. See the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for additional technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-26976
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual SQL syntax (UNION, SELECT, SLEEP, BENCHMARK) appearing in HTTP request parameters destined for private-content plugin endpoints
- Unexpected outbound database query patterns or elevated query execution times in MySQL slow query logs
- New or modified wp_users and wp_usermeta records that do not correspond to legitimate administrative actions
- Repeated requests from a single authenticated session targeting plugin endpoints with varying query string payloads
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for encoded SQL metacharacters (%27, %22, %2D%2D) in requests handled by the private-content plugin
- Deploy web application firewall rules tuned to detect SQL injection patterns against WordPress plugin endpoints
- Correlate authenticated user activity with anomalous database query volume to identify in-progress exploitation
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable MySQL general or audit logging for the WordPress database and alert on queries containing union-based or stacked statements
- Monitor low-privileged subscriber accounts for behavior inconsistent with normal user activity
- Track plugin file integrity and configuration changes through file integrity monitoring tooling
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-26976
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the PrivateContent plugin to a version later than 8.11.4 once the vendor releases a patched build
- Disable or remove the PrivateContent plugin on sites where an updated version is not yet available
- Audit registered user accounts and revoke access for unrecognized subscriber-level accounts
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and database passwords if exploitation is suspected
Patch Information
Review the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for the latest patch availability and remediation guidance. Apply vendor-supplied updates as soon as they are published.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to the WordPress site to trusted IP ranges while a patch is pending
- Disable open user registration to limit the pool of authenticated accounts that can exploit the flaw
- Deploy a web application firewall with SQL injection signatures in front of the WordPress instance
- Apply the principle of least privilege to the WordPress database user, removing rights such as FILE and SUPER that are not required for normal operation
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
