CVE-2026-24956: Elementor Download Manager SQLi Flaw

CVE-2026-24956 Overview

CVE-2026-24956 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Download Manager Addons for Elementor WordPress plugin (wpdm-elementor) developed by Shahjada. This vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to perform Blind SQL Injection attacks against WordPress installations using vulnerable versions of the plugin, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive database contents including user credentials, personal information, and other confidential data stored in the WordPress database.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this Blind SQL Injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data from the WordPress database, including administrator credentials and user information, without requiring any authentication.

Affected Products

• Download Manager Addons for Elementor (wpdm-elementor) versions through 1.3.0
• WordPress installations with the vulnerable plugin installed and activated
• All sites using the affected Elementor addon regardless of WordPress core version

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-20 - CVE CVE-2026-24956 published to NVD
• 2026-02-23 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-24956

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command), commonly known as SQL Injection. The Download Manager Addons for Elementor plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed by the database server.

The Blind SQL Injection variant present in this vulnerability means that while the application does not directly return database query results to the attacker, it does exhibit different behavior based on whether injected conditions evaluate to true or false. Attackers can leverage this behavior difference to methodically extract database contents one character at a time through techniques such as boolean-based blind injection or time-based blind injection.

Given that this vulnerability is network-accessible and requires no authentication or user interaction, it represents a significant risk to WordPress sites using the affected plugin. Successful exploitation could lead to complete compromise of the WordPress database, including extraction of password hashes, email addresses, and potentially sensitive plugin data.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the Download Manager Addons for Elementor plugin. User-controlled input is concatenated directly into SQL query strings rather than being properly escaped or passed through prepared statements with parameter binding. This allows specially crafted input containing SQL syntax to alter the intended query logic.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and can be performed by unauthenticated remote attackers. The exploitation does not require any user interaction, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible WordPress sites. Attackers can craft HTTP requests containing malicious SQL payloads that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, manipulate database queries to leak information or perform unauthorized operations.

The Blind SQL Injection technique typically involves sending numerous requests with conditional payloads that cause observable differences in the application's response (such as response time delays or content variations). Through iterative testing, attackers can infer database structure and extract data without receiving direct query output.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-24956

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database query patterns or errors in WordPress logs indicating SQL syntax issues
• High volume of requests to Elementor-related endpoints with suspicious parameters containing SQL keywords
• Web application firewall logs showing blocked SQL injection attempts targeting the wpdm-elementor plugin
• Unexpected delays in page load times that could indicate time-based SQL injection attempts

Detection Strategies

• Deploy Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules specifically targeting SQL injection patterns in requests to WordPress plugin endpoints
• Monitor web server access logs for requests containing common SQL injection keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP(), BENCHMARK(), and conditional operators
• Implement database query logging to detect anomalous or malformed SQL statements originating from the WordPress application
• Use security plugins that detect and block SQL injection attempts in real-time

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on WordPress and regularly review logs for suspicious activity patterns
• Configure alerting for database errors or unusual query execution times that may indicate blind SQL injection probing
• Monitor network traffic for high-frequency requests to WordPress endpoints that could indicate automated exploitation attempts
• Implement file integrity monitoring to detect any unauthorized modifications to plugin files

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-24956

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the Download Manager Addons for Elementor plugin to a patched version immediately if one is available from the vendor
• If no patch is available, deactivate and remove the vulnerable plugin from your WordPress installation
• Review database access logs for any signs of exploitation that may have occurred before mitigation
• Audit user accounts and change administrator passwords if compromise is suspected

Patch Information

Site administrators should check for updates to the Download Manager Addons for Elementor plugin through the WordPress admin dashboard. According to the Patchstack security advisory, versions through 1.3.0 are affected. Install any available security updates from the plugin author or consider removing the plugin entirely if your site does not require its functionality.

Workarounds

• Deactivate the Download Manager Addons for Elementor plugin until a security patch is released
• Implement Web Application Firewall rules to block requests containing SQL injection patterns to WordPress endpoints
• Restrict access to the WordPress admin and plugin endpoints using IP-based allow lists where feasible
• Use a security plugin that provides virtual patching capabilities for known WordPress vulnerabilities