CVE-2026-1370 Overview
CVE-2026-1370 is a time-based SQL injection vulnerability [CWE-89] in the SIBS WooCommerce Payment Gateway plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 2.2.0. The vulnerability resides in the referencedId parameter, which lacks sufficient escaping and is concatenated into an SQL query without proper preparation. Authenticated attackers with Administrator-level privileges can append additional SQL statements to existing queries. Successful exploitation enables extraction of sensitive information from the underlying WordPress database.
Critical Impact
Administrator-level attackers can exfiltrate sensitive database contents from WordPress sites running vulnerable versions of the SIBS WooCommerce Payment Gateway plugin.
Affected Products
- SIBS WooCommerce Payment Gateway plugin for WordPress
- All versions up to and including 2.2.0
- WordPress sites using WooCommerce with SIBS payment integration
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-02-04 - CVE-2026-1370 published to NVD
- 2026-04-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-1370
Vulnerability Analysis
The SIBS WooCommerce Payment Gateway plugin processes the referencedId parameter inside a database query located in class-sibs-payment-gateway.php. The plugin fails to sanitize this user-supplied value and does not use parameterized queries through the WordPress $wpdb->prepare() API. Attackers can inject additional SQL syntax that the database executes alongside the legitimate query.
Because the response does not directly reflect query results, exploitation relies on time-based techniques. Attackers craft payloads using functions such as SLEEP() or BENCHMARK() and infer data values from the server's response delay. This allows iterative extraction of database contents including user records, password hashes, and session tokens.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient input escaping combined with unprepared SQL statements. The plugin concatenates the referencedId parameter directly into the SQL string rather than binding it as a parameter. WordPress provides the $wpdb->prepare() function specifically to prevent this class of issue, but the affected code path bypasses it. The vulnerable code is referenced at line 1855 of the plugin's source tree, per the WordPress Plugin Source Code.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires authentication at the Administrator level or higher. The attacker submits a crafted request containing a malicious referencedId value to the vulnerable endpoint. The injected SQL executes within the WordPress database context. The high privilege requirement narrows the threat to compromised admin accounts, malicious insiders, or scenarios involving multi-admin deployments. Further technical details are available in the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-1370
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests containing the referencedId parameter with SQL keywords such as SLEEP, BENCHMARK, UNION, SELECT, or -- comment sequences
- Unusually long response times from WordPress admin endpoints handling SIBS payment processing
- Repeated authenticated POST or GET requests from a single admin session probing the payment gateway
- Database query logs showing malformed or unexpected SQL syntax originating from the SIBS plugin
Detection Strategies
- Enable WordPress debug logging and review wp-content/debug.log for SQL syntax errors involving the SIBS plugin
- Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) rule that inspects the referencedId parameter for SQL metacharacters
- Monitor database query duration metrics for outliers consistent with time-based injection patterns
- Audit administrator account activity for unexpected interactions with payment gateway configuration pages
Monitoring Recommendations
- Forward web server access logs and WordPress audit logs to a centralized SIEM for correlation
- Alert on admin sessions submitting parameters containing SQL functions like SLEEP() or BENCHMARK()
- Track new or modified administrator accounts to detect credential compromise that would enable exploitation
- Review WooCommerce order processing logs for anomalies tied to SIBS payment transactions
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-1370
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the SIBS WooCommerce Payment Gateway plugin to a version newer than 2.2.0 once the vendor publishes a fix
- Audit all WordPress administrator accounts and enforce strong, unique passwords with multi-factor authentication
- Review database access logs for evidence of prior exploitation activity targeting the referencedId parameter
- Restrict administrator access to trusted personnel and IP ranges where feasible
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.2.0. Site administrators should monitor the WordPress plugin repository for an updated release and apply it as soon as it becomes available. Until a patched version is published, treat the plugin as vulnerable in all deployments.
Workarounds
- Disable the SIBS WooCommerce Payment Gateway plugin if it is not in active production use
- Implement WAF rules that block requests containing SQL metacharacters in the referencedId parameter
- Apply the principle of least privilege by limiting the number of accounts with Administrator capabilities
- Use database-level controls such as restricting the WordPress database user to only required operations
# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) to block SQL injection patterns in referencedId
SecRule ARGS:referencedId "@rx (?i)(sleep|benchmark|union\s+select|--|;)" \
"id:1002026,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'CVE-2026-1370 SQLi attempt blocked'"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
