CVE-2026-0926: Prodigy Commerce WordPress Plugin RCE Flaw

CVE-2026-0926 Overview

The Prodigy Commerce plugin for WordPress contains a critical Local File Inclusion (LFI) vulnerability affecting all versions up to and including 3.2.9. The vulnerability exists in the parameters[template_name] parameter, which fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before including files from the server filesystem.

This security flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to include and read arbitrary files on the server or execute arbitrary PHP code contained within accessible files. The vulnerability can be weaponized to bypass access controls, exfiltrate sensitive data including configuration files and database credentials, or achieve full remote code execution when combined with file upload capabilities.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can achieve remote code execution by exploiting the Local File Inclusion vulnerability to include uploaded PHP files or leverage PHP wrappers for code execution.

Affected Products

• Prodigy Commerce WordPress Plugin versions up to and including 3.2.9
• WordPress installations running vulnerable versions of the Prodigy Commerce plugin
• Servers hosting affected WordPress sites with PHP code execution capabilities

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-19 - CVE-2026-0926 published to NVD
• 2026-02-19 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-0926

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-98: Improper Control of Filename for Include/Require Statement in PHP Program. The flaw resides in the template loading mechanism of the Prodigy Commerce plugin, where the parameters[template_name] parameter is processed without adequate input validation or path restriction.

The vulnerable code path allows attackers to manipulate the template name parameter to traverse directories and include arbitrary files from the server. When PHP files are included, their code is executed in the context of the WordPress application, providing attackers with full control over the application and potentially the underlying server.

The network-accessible nature of this vulnerability, combined with the lack of authentication requirements, makes it particularly dangerous. Attackers can remotely exploit this flaw without any prior credentials or user interaction, significantly lowering the barrier to successful exploitation.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in the class-prodigy-template.php file and related template handling classes, where user-controlled input from the parameters[template_name] parameter is passed directly to PHP's file inclusion functions without proper sanitization. The code fails to implement whitelist-based validation, path canonicalization, or restriction to a designated template directory.

This allows path traversal sequences (such as ../) to escape the intended template directory and reference arbitrary files on the filesystem. Additionally, PHP wrapper protocols may be used to execute code or access remote resources depending on server configuration.

Attack Vector

The attack can be executed remotely over the network without authentication. An attacker crafts a malicious HTTP request containing directory traversal sequences or PHP wrapper protocols in the parameters[template_name] parameter.

The attack typically proceeds as follows: First, the attacker identifies a WordPress site running a vulnerable version of Prodigy Commerce. Then, they craft a request that manipulates the template parameter to include sensitive files such as wp-config.php to extract database credentials. For code execution, attackers can either include previously uploaded files containing PHP code (via the upload functionality) or utilize PHP wrappers like php://filter to achieve code execution through various techniques.

The vulnerability is particularly severe because "safe" file uploads (images with embedded PHP code) can be leveraged for code execution, bypassing typical file upload restrictions.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-0926

Indicators of Compromise

• HTTP requests containing path traversal sequences (../, ..%2f) in the parameters[template_name] parameter
• Requests attempting to access sensitive files like /etc/passwd, wp-config.php, or .htaccess through the plugin endpoints
• Unusual PHP wrapper usage such as php://filter, php://input, or data:// in request parameters
• Unexpected file access patterns in web server logs pointing to the Prodigy Commerce plugin directory

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block path traversal patterns in HTTP parameters
• Monitor web server access logs for requests containing parameters[template_name] with suspicious values
• Deploy file integrity monitoring on sensitive configuration files to detect unauthorized reads
• Use endpoint detection solutions to identify unusual PHP process behavior or file access patterns

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for the WordPress installation and review logs for suspicious template inclusion attempts
• Configure alerting for HTTP 200 responses to requests containing known LFI patterns
• Monitor for new or modified files in the WordPress uploads directory that may contain PHP code
• Track outbound connections from the web server that may indicate successful exploitation and data exfiltration

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-0926

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Prodigy Commerce plugin to a patched version beyond 3.2.9 immediately
• If updates are unavailable, deactivate and remove the Prodigy Commerce plugin until a patch is released
• Review web server logs for evidence of exploitation attempts against this vulnerability
• Audit WordPress installations for unauthorized changes, new admin accounts, or uploaded malicious files
• Rotate all credentials including WordPress admin passwords and database credentials as a precaution

Patch Information

Organizations should check the official WordPress plugin repository for an updated version of Prodigy Commerce that addresses this vulnerability. The vulnerable code exists in the template handling classes, specifically class-prodigy-template.php. Security updates should implement proper input validation, path canonicalization, and whitelist-based template restrictions.

For detailed technical analysis of the vulnerable code paths, refer to the Wordfence Vulnerability Analysis and the WordPress Prodigy Template Code.

Workarounds

• Implement WAF rules to block requests containing path traversal sequences targeting the Prodigy Commerce plugin endpoints
• Restrict PHP's open_basedir directive to limit file inclusion to the WordPress directory
• Disable dangerous PHP wrappers by configuring allow_url_include = Off in php.ini if not already disabled
• Apply network-level access controls to limit who can reach the WordPress administration and plugin endpoints

# Example WAF rule for ModSecurity to block path traversal attempts
SecRule ARGS:parameters[template_name] "@rx (\.\./|\.\.\\\\|php://|data://)" \
    "id:100001,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'Potential LFI attack on Prodigy Commerce plugin'"