CVE-2026-22850: Koko Analytics SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2026-22850 Overview

Koko Analytics is an open-source analytics plugin for WordPress that contains a critical SQL injection vulnerability in versions prior to 2.1.3. The vulnerability exists in the analytics export/import functionality, where unescaped user-controlled input can be leveraged to execute arbitrary SQL statements on the WordPress database. Unauthenticated visitors can submit crafted path (pa) and referrer (r) values to the public tracking endpoint in src/Resources/functions/collect.php, which stores these strings without sanitization in the analytics tables. When an administrator exports and subsequently imports this data, the malicious SQL payloads are executed with database privileges.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability enables arbitrary SQL execution allowing attackers to delete core WordPress tables (e.g., wp_users), insert backdoor administrator accounts, or perform other destructive and privilege-escalating actions against the WordPress database.

Affected Products

• Koko Analytics WordPress Plugin versions prior to 2.1.3
• WordPress installations running vulnerable Koko Analytics versions

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-19 - CVE CVE-2026-22850 published to NVD
• 2026-01-19 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-22850

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL injection vulnerability (CWE-89) presents a sophisticated multi-stage attack chain that exploits the lack of input sanitization in the analytics tracking and data import/export workflows. The attack leverages the trust relationship between the public-facing tracking endpoint and the administrative data management functions.

The vulnerability begins when an attacker submits crafted path or referrer values to the publicly accessible tracking endpoint at src/Resources/functions/collect.php. These values are stored verbatim in the analytics database tables without any sanitization or escaping. The admin export logic in src/Admin/Data_Export.php then writes these stored values directly into SQL INSERT statements, creating a time-delayed SQL injection payload.

When an administrator imports the exported SQL file through src/Admin/Data_Import.php, the handler reads the uploaded SQL using file_get_contents, performs only a superficial header check, splits the content on semicolons, and executes each statement via $wpdb->query without validating table names or statement types.

Root Cause

The root cause is twofold: First, the tracking endpoint stores user-supplied data without proper sanitization. Second, the data export functionality fails to properly escape values when constructing SQL INSERT statements. The import handler compounds this issue by blindly executing SQL statements without any validation, creating a complete exploit chain from unauthenticated input to arbitrary SQL execution.

Additionally, any authenticated user with manage_koko_analytics capability can upload an arbitrary .sql file and have it executed in the same permissive manner, providing a direct attack vector for lower-privileged authenticated users.

Attack Vector

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability through two primary vectors:

1. Unauthenticated Injection: Submit a crafted path value such as '),('999','x');DROP TABLE wp_users;-- to the public tracking endpoint. When this data is exported and later imported by an administrator, the malicious SQL breaks out of the value list and executes arbitrary commands.

2. Authenticated Direct Upload: Users with manage_koko_analytics permission can directly upload malicious .sql files that will be executed without validation.

The following code shows the vulnerable export logic and the security patch that was applied:

         fwrite($stream, "INSERT INTO {$this->db->prefix}koko_analytics_paths (id, path) VALUES ");
         $prefix = '';
         foreach ($rows as $s) {
-            fwrite($stream, "{$prefix}({$s->id},\"{$s->path}\")");
+            fprintf($stream, "{$prefix}({$s->id},\"%s\")", esc_sql($s->path));
             $prefix = ',';
         }
         fwrite($stream, ";\n");

Source: GitHub Commit Update

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-22850

Indicators of Compromise

• Suspicious path or referrer values in koko_analytics_paths or koko_analytics_referrer_urls tables containing SQL syntax such as semicolons, parentheses, or SQL keywords
• Unexpected SQL files in WordPress upload directories or plugin temporary folders
• Database audit logs showing unusual DROP, INSERT, or ALTER statements originating from Koko Analytics functions
• New administrator accounts or modified user privileges without authorized changes

Detection Strategies

• Monitor the Koko Analytics tracking endpoint (collect.php) for requests containing SQL injection patterns in the pa and r parameters
• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection attempts in analytics tracking parameters
• Review WordPress database tables for anomalous entries containing SQL syntax characters
• Enable database query logging and alert on destructive statements (DROP, TRUNCATE, DELETE) executed by the WordPress database user

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure SentinelOne to monitor for suspicious database query patterns and file uploads to WordPress plugin directories
• Set up alerts for changes to WordPress core tables, especially wp_users and wp_options
• Implement file integrity monitoring on Koko Analytics plugin files to detect unauthorized modifications
• Monitor for authentication events involving newly created administrator accounts

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-22850

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Koko Analytics to version 2.1.3 or later immediately
• Audit the koko_analytics_paths and koko_analytics_referrer_urls tables for suspicious entries containing SQL syntax
• Review WordPress user accounts for unauthorized administrator accounts
• Restrict the manage_koko_analytics capability to only trusted administrators
• Consider temporarily disabling the Koko Analytics data import functionality until the update is applied

Patch Information

The vulnerability has been patched in Koko Analytics version 2.1.3. The fix implements proper escaping of path and URL values during the data export process using the esc_sql() function. The security patch is available in commit 7b7d58f4a1838c8203cf4e7bb59847c982432119. Detailed information about the vulnerability and fix can be found in the GitHub Security Advisory.

Workarounds

• Disable the Koko Analytics data export/import functionality until the plugin can be updated
• Implement WAF rules to filter SQL injection patterns in requests to the Koko Analytics tracking endpoint
• Remove the manage_koko_analytics capability from non-administrator users
• Consider using database user permissions to restrict DROP and ALTER privileges if not required for normal WordPress operation

# Verify current Koko Analytics version via WP-CLI
wp plugin list --name=koko-analytics --fields=name,version,status

# Update Koko Analytics to the patched version
wp plugin update koko-analytics

# Audit analytics tables for suspicious SQL patterns
wp db query "SELECT * FROM wp_koko_analytics_paths WHERE path LIKE '%;%' OR path LIKE '%DROP%' OR path LIKE '%INSERT%';"