CVE-2026-2416: Geo Mashup WordPress Plugin SQLi Flaw

CVE-2026-2416 Overview

The Geo Mashup plugin for WordPress contains a SQL Injection vulnerability in the sort parameter affecting all versions up to and including 1.13.17. This vulnerability arises from insufficient escaping of user-supplied input and inadequate preparation of SQL queries. Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this flaw to append malicious SQL queries to existing database operations, potentially extracting sensitive information from the WordPress database.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can extract sensitive database information including user credentials, posts, and other WordPress data without any authentication requirements.

Affected Products

• Geo Mashup WordPress Plugin versions up to and including 1.13.17

Discovery Timeline

• February 25, 2026 - CVE-2026-2416 published to NVD
• February 25, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-2416

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the Geo Mashup plugin's database handling code, specifically within the geo-mashup-db.php file. The vulnerable code fails to properly sanitize the sort parameter before incorporating it into SQL queries. Because the parameter is directly concatenated into the query string without proper escaping or parameterized query usage, attackers can manipulate the query logic by injecting malicious SQL syntax.

The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication—any remote attacker can exploit it by sending crafted HTTP requests to the WordPress site. Successful exploitation enables extraction of confidential data from the database, which may include user credentials, email addresses, private posts, and other sensitive WordPress content.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and the absence of prepared statements in the SQL query construction. The sort parameter is directly incorporated into database queries without proper escaping or sanitization. WordPress provides the $wpdb->prepare() function specifically to prevent SQL injection attacks, but this mechanism was not properly implemented for the affected parameter.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires no privileges or user interaction. An attacker sends a crafted HTTP request to a WordPress site running the vulnerable Geo Mashup plugin, manipulating the sort parameter to inject SQL commands. The injected SQL is executed with the database privileges of the WordPress installation, allowing data extraction through UNION-based injection, blind injection, or other SQL injection techniques.

The vulnerability exists in at least two locations within the geo-mashup-db.php file (lines 1530 and 1701), both of which handle the sort parameter in database queries. Attackers can leverage these injection points to perform unauthorized queries against the WordPress database, extracting sensitive information without triggering standard authentication mechanisms.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-2416

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database queries containing the sort parameter with SQL keywords like UNION, SELECT, OR, AND, or comment sequences (--, /*)
• Abnormal response sizes or errors in HTTP responses related to Geo Mashup functionality
• Web server logs showing requests with encoded SQL syntax in query parameters
• Database logs indicating queries with unexpected subqueries or UNION statements

Detection Strategies

• Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect SQL injection patterns in the sort parameter
• Monitor WordPress access logs for requests to Geo Mashup endpoints with suspicious query strings
• Deploy database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns or data extraction attempts
• Use automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify outdated Geo Mashup plugin versions

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging on the WordPress database to capture all queries for forensic analysis
• Configure alerting for HTTP requests containing common SQL injection payloads
• Implement rate limiting on endpoints that accept the sort parameter
• Review WordPress audit logs regularly for signs of unauthorized data access

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-2416

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Geo Mashup plugin to the patched version immediately (versions after 1.13.17)
• Temporarily disable the Geo Mashup plugin if an immediate update is not possible
• Implement WAF rules to block SQL injection attempts targeting the sort parameter
• Review database access logs for signs of prior exploitation

Patch Information

The vulnerability has been addressed in the Geo Mashup plugin changeset 3461591. Site administrators should update to the latest version of Geo Mashup available in the WordPress plugin repository. The patch implements proper input sanitization and prepared statements for the affected SQL queries.

For detailed vulnerability information, see the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.

Workarounds

• Disable the Geo Mashup plugin until the update can be applied
• Implement server-level input validation to reject requests containing SQL metacharacters in the sort parameter
• Use a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection protection rules enabled
• Restrict access to WordPress admin and API endpoints to trusted IP addresses where possible

# WordPress CLI command to update Geo Mashup plugin
wp plugin update geo-mashup

# Alternative: Deactivate plugin until patch is applied
wp plugin deactivate geo-mashup