CVE-2026-22850: Koko Analytics SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2026-22850 Overview

CVE-2026-22850 is a SQL injection vulnerability [CWE-89] in Koko Analytics, an open-source analytics plugin for WordPress developed by Ibericode. Versions prior to 2.1.3 store unsanitized visitor-supplied data in analytics tables, then write those values directly into SQL INSERT statements during admin export. The plugin's import handler executes uploaded SQL files with no validation of statement types or table names. Attackers can chain these flaws to execute arbitrary SQL against the WordPress database when an administrator imports a poisoned export file. Version 2.1.3 patches the issue.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation enables arbitrary SQL execution on the WordPress database, allowing deletion of core tables such as wp_users, insertion of backdoor administrator accounts, and full site compromise.

Affected Products

• Ibericode Koko Analytics for WordPress (versions prior to 2.1.3)
• WordPress sites with manage_koko_analytics capability enabled
• Any site exposing the public tracking endpoint in src/Resources/functions/collect.php

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-19 - CVE-2026-22850 published to NVD
• 2026-03-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-22850

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability spans three plugin components and combines stored input, unsafe SQL serialization, and an unrestricted SQL execution sink. Unauthenticated visitors submit arbitrary pa (path) and r (referrer) values to the public tracking endpoint in src/Resources/functions/collect.php. The plugin stores those strings verbatim in the analytics tables.

The admin export logic in src/Admin/Data_Export.php later reads those stored values and concatenates them into SQL INSERT statements without escaping. A crafted path such as "),('999','x');DROP TABLE wp_users;-- breaks out of the value list and injects attacker-controlled statements into the export file.

When an administrator imports the export, src/Admin/Data_Import.php reads the file with file_get_contents, performs only a superficial header check, splits on semicolons, and executes each statement via $wpdb->query. The import handler does not validate table names or statement types.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing output escaping in the export routine combined with an import handler that treats uploaded SQL as trusted. Stored tracking data flows from an unauthenticated network endpoint into an administrative execution sink without sanitization at either boundary.

Attack Vector

Two attack paths exist. An unauthenticated remote attacker poisons the analytics tables through the tracking endpoint and waits for an administrator to export and re-import data. Alternatively, any authenticated user holding the manage_koko_analytics capability uploads an arbitrary .sql file that the import handler executes directly.

// Conceptual injection payload submitted to the public tracking endpoint
// pa="),('999','x');DROP TABLE wp_users;--
// Stored verbatim, then concatenated into INSERT statements during export,
// then executed by $wpdb->query during admin import.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-22850

Indicators of Compromise

• Entries in Koko Analytics tables containing SQL metacharacters such as ', ), ;, --, or substrings matching DROP, INSERT INTO wp_users, or UPDATE wp_options.
• Unexpected administrator accounts in wp_users or new rows in wp_usermeta granting administrator capabilities.
• Recent uploads of .sql files to wp-content directories associated with the plugin.
• Export files generated by Data_Export.php containing statements that touch tables outside the koko_analytics_* namespace.

Detection Strategies

• Audit web server logs for POST requests to the Koko Analytics tracking endpoint with pa or r parameters containing parentheses, quotes, or semicolons.
• Scan analytics tables for stored values that contain SQL syntax tokens or unusually long path/referrer strings.
• Inspect export files prior to import and verify that every statement targets only koko_analytics_* tables.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor WordPress database for schema changes, unexpected table drops, and creation of administrator-level accounts.
• Alert on invocations of the plugin's import action by users with the manage_koko_analytics capability.
• Track file integrity for plugin directories and uploaded SQL artifacts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-22850

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Koko Analytics to version 2.1.3 or later on every WordPress site running the plugin.
• Review the wp_users and wp_usermeta tables for unauthorized administrator accounts and remove them.
• Purge existing Koko Analytics tables of any rows containing SQL metacharacters before performing any export operation.
• Restrict the manage_koko_analytics capability to trusted administrators only.

Patch Information

Ibericode released version 2.1.3, which escapes stored values during export and validates statements during import. Review the GitHub commit 7b7d58f4 and the GHSA-jgfh-264m-xh3q advisory for fix details.

Workarounds

• Disable or remove the Koko Analytics plugin until the patch is applied.
• Block public access to the tracking endpoint at the web server or WAF layer using rules that drop requests containing SQL syntax in pa or r parameters.
• Do not import any previously generated Koko Analytics export files without manual review.

# Update Koko Analytics via WP-CLI
wp plugin update koko-analytics --version=2.1.3

# Verify installed version
wp plugin get koko-analytics --field=version