CVE-2026-11349 Overview
CVE-2026-11349 is an unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability affecting the Modern Event Calendar Pro and Modern Events Calendar Lite WordPress plugins before version 7.34.0. The plugins fail to sanitize and escape a request parameter before using it in a SQL statement. The vulnerable code path is reachable through an AJAX action exposed to unauthenticated users. Attackers can inject arbitrary SQL to extract sensitive data from the WordPress database, including credentials, session tokens, and configuration secrets. The flaw is classified under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).
Critical Impact
Remote, unauthenticated attackers can extract sensitive database contents from affected WordPress installations without user interaction.
Affected Products
- Modern Event Calendar Pro WordPress plugin before 7.34.0
- Modern Events Calendar Lite WordPress plugin before 7.34.0
- WordPress sites exposing the vulnerable AJAX action to unauthenticated visitors
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-07-20 - CVE-2026-11349 published to NVD
- 2026-07-20 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-11349
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in an AJAX handler registered under both wp_ajax_ and wp_ajax_nopriv_ hooks, making it callable without authentication. The handler accepts a request parameter and concatenates it directly into a SQL query executed against the WordPress database. Because the plugin skips both sanitization and prepared statement usage, attackers control the SQL syntax passed to the backend.
Exploitation allows extraction of arbitrary data from wp_users, wp_usermeta, and any custom tables accessible to the WordPress database user. Attackers can retrieve password hashes, session tokens, API keys stored in options, and personally identifiable information from event registrations. The scope-changed CVSS vector reflects that the impact crosses the plugin boundary into the broader database.
Root Cause
The root cause is the absence of input sanitization and parameterized queries in an AJAX endpoint. The plugin developers built the SQL statement through string concatenation rather than using the $wpdb->prepare() API that WordPress provides for safe query construction.
Attack Vector
An attacker sends a crafted HTTP POST request to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php specifying the vulnerable plugin action and a malicious payload in the affected parameter. The payload uses standard SQL injection techniques such as UNION SELECT statements or boolean-based blind extraction to enumerate database contents. No authentication, session, or user interaction is required.
The vulnerability manifests in the plugin's AJAX request handler. Refer to the WPScan Vulnerability Report for technical details on the affected parameter and action name.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-11349
Indicators of Compromise
- POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA in Modern Events Calendar action parameters
- Unusual database query patterns targeting wp_users or wp_options originating from the plugin's AJAX handler
- Web server access logs showing repeated requests to the plugin's AJAX action from a single source IP
- Outbound data exfiltration or unexpected error responses from admin-ajax.php
Detection Strategies
- Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that inspect admin-ajax.php POST bodies for SQL metacharacters in Modern Events Calendar action parameters
- Enable MySQL general query logging temporarily to identify anomalous queries originating from the plugin
- Correlate admin-ajax.php request volume against baseline activity for the affected action value
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on HTTP 500 responses from admin-ajax.php that correlate with SQL syntax errors in PHP logs
- Monitor for high-entropy or base64-encoded strings in AJAX request parameters targeting the plugin
- Track outbound traffic from the web server to unusual destinations that may indicate data exfiltration following injection
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-11349
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Modern Event Calendar Pro and Modern Events Calendar Lite to version 7.34.0 or later immediately
- Audit wp_users and wp_options for signs of unauthorized reads or modifications
- Rotate WordPress secret keys in wp-config.php and force password resets for all administrative accounts
- Review web server access logs for prior exploitation attempts against admin-ajax.php
Patch Information
The vendor addressed the vulnerability in Modern Event Calendar Pro 7.34.0 and Modern Events Calendar Lite 7.34.0. Site administrators should apply the update through the WordPress plugin dashboard or by downloading the patched release. See the WPScan Vulnerability Report for advisory details.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the plugin until the patched version can be deployed
- Block unauthenticated access to admin-ajax.php actions related to the plugin at the WAF or reverse proxy layer
- Restrict database user privileges so the WordPress account cannot read tables outside its required scope
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
