CVE-2026-18057 Overview
CVE-2026-18057 is a SQL injection vulnerability in the Events Manager WordPress plugin versions prior to 7.4.1. The plugin fails to sanitize and escape a user-controlled value before passing it into a SQL statement. Authenticated users with subscriber-level access or higher can inject SQL and tamper with booking consent records that belong to other users. The flaw is classified under CWE-89, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements Used in an SQL Command.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with low-privilege subscriber accounts can execute arbitrary SQL queries and modify booking consent data belonging to other users.
Affected Products
- Events Manager WordPress plugin versions before 7.4.1
- WordPress sites with subscriber registration enabled that install the plugin
- Booking and consent records managed by the plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-12 - CVE-2026-18057 published to NVD
- 2026-08-12 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-18057
Vulnerability Analysis
The Events Manager plugin accepts a user-controlled parameter and concatenates it into a SQL query without sanitization or parameter binding. Any authenticated user at the subscriber tier can supply crafted input that alters the query structure. Because subscriber accounts are the lowest authenticated role in WordPress and are frequently auto-provisioned, the effective barrier to exploitation is minimal.
Successful exploitation targets booking consent records associated with other user accounts. Attackers can read or modify records that store user consent related to event bookings. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond the attacker submitting a request to the vulnerable endpoint.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input sanitization and lack of prepared statements when constructing SQL queries involving a user-supplied value. The plugin trusts the input from authenticated requests and inserts it directly into a query. WordPress provides $wpdb->prepare() for parameterized queries, but the vulnerable code path bypasses this safeguard.
Attack Vector
An attacker first registers or acquires a subscriber account on a target WordPress site running a vulnerable Events Manager version. The attacker then sends a crafted HTTP request containing SQL metacharacters in the affected parameter. The injected SQL executes with the privileges of the WordPress database user and can manipulate booking consent records tied to other accounts. Refer to the WPScan Vulnerability Report for further technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-18057
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected modifications to booking consent records in the em_bookings or related plugin tables
- HTTP requests from subscriber-role accounts containing SQL syntax such as UNION, SELECT, --, or quote characters in plugin parameters
- Web server access logs showing repeated requests to Events Manager endpoints from newly registered accounts
- Database error entries referencing plugin queries during periods of unusual account activity
Detection Strategies
- Enable WordPress database query logging and inspect queries generated by the Events Manager plugin for anomalous constructs
- Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection rules tuned for WordPress plugin endpoints
- Review recent subscriber account registrations and correlate with requests to booking-related URLs
- Compare current booking consent record contents against known-good backups to detect tampering
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on any HTTP 500 responses from Events Manager endpoints, which may indicate failed injection attempts
- Monitor for subscriber-tier accounts issuing requests to administrative or booking management routes
- Track database schema changes and unexpected write operations against plugin-owned tables
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-18057
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Events Manager plugin to version 7.4.1 or later on all WordPress installations
- Audit existing subscriber accounts and disable or remove those that are unrecognized
- Review booking consent records for signs of unauthorized modification and restore from backup if needed
- Restrict new user registration temporarily if the plugin cannot be updated immediately
Patch Information
The vendor addressed the vulnerability in Events Manager version 7.4.1. Site administrators should update through the WordPress plugin dashboard or by manually replacing the plugin files. See the WPScan Vulnerability Report for advisory details.
Workarounds
- Disable the Events Manager plugin until the patched version can be deployed
- Configure a WAF rule to block SQL metacharacters in requests to Events Manager endpoints
- Set WordPress registration to require administrator approval to limit exposure to authenticated attackers
- Restrict database user permissions so the WordPress account cannot perform destructive operations beyond required scope
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
