CVE-2026-39581 Overview
CVE-2026-39581 is a SQL injection vulnerability in the WordPress plugin WP Sessions Time Monitoring Full Automatic versions 1.1.4 and earlier. The flaw allows authenticated users holding only the Subscriber role to inject SQL statements into backend database queries. Because Subscriber accounts can typically be created through open WordPress registration, the attacker prerequisites are minimal.
The weakness is classified under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. Patchstack tracks the issue in its WordPress vulnerability database.
Critical Impact
Authenticated subscribers can execute arbitrary SQL against the WordPress database, exposing sensitive data such as user credentials, session tokens, and private content.
Affected Products
- WP Sessions Time Monitoring Full Automatic plugin for WordPress, versions <= 1.1.4
- WordPress sites that permit subscriber-level registration with the plugin installed
- WordPress installations exposing the plugin endpoints to authenticated users
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-16 - CVE-2026-39581 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-39581
Vulnerability Analysis
The plugin fails to neutralize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL statements. An authenticated Subscriber can submit crafted parameters to a vulnerable plugin endpoint, and those parameters are concatenated directly into a database query. The result is an injection primitive that runs in the security context of the WordPress database user.
The scope is marked as changed, meaning the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component into the broader WordPress database. Confidentiality impact is high, while integrity is unaffected and availability impact is low, reflecting read-oriented injection exposure with potential to disrupt query execution.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input sanitization and the absence of prepared statements in plugin code paths that accept request data. Instead of using $wpdb->prepare() with placeholders, the plugin constructs SQL strings using untrusted input, violating the WordPress database API guidance for safe queries.
Attack Vector
An attacker first obtains a Subscriber account on the target WordPress site. The attacker then issues HTTP requests to the affected plugin endpoint with SQL metacharacters embedded in parameter values. The injected payload can perform UNION-based extraction, boolean-based blind retrieval, or time-based blind retrieval depending on the query context. No user interaction is required from administrators or other site users.
No public proof-of-concept code is currently available. Technical details are documented in the Patchstack advisory.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-39581
Indicators of Compromise
- Web server access logs containing SQL keywords such as UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, BENCHMARK(, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA in parameters sent to plugin endpoints
- Unexpected outbound queries against wp_users, wp_usermeta, or wp_options from the plugin's request handlers
- Subscriber accounts created shortly before anomalous requests to plugin URLs under /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or /wp-json/ namespaces tied to the plugin
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WordPress request logs for SQL syntax in parameters submitted by users whose role is Subscriber
- Enable MySQL or MariaDB general query logging in staging environments to identify malformed or unauthorized queries originating from the plugin
- Deploy a web application firewall rule set covering generic SQL injection patterns and review blocked requests targeting the plugin slug activitytime
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on new Subscriber registrations followed by requests to plugin endpoints within short time windows
- Track query error rates from the WordPress database user, since blind SQL injection often produces syntax errors during payload tuning
- Monitor database egress for bulk reads of the wp_users table or large SELECT results returned to PHP-FPM workers
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-39581
Immediate Actions Required
- Disable or remove the WP Sessions Time Monitoring Full Automatic plugin until a patched release is verified
- Disable open user registration or restrict the default role to a non-privileged custom role with no plugin access
- Rotate WordPress administrator passwords, secret keys in wp-config.php, and any API tokens stored in the database
Patch Information
No fixed version has been published in the available references at the time of NVD entry. Track the Patchstack advisory for vendor updates and apply the patched release as soon as it is available.
Workarounds
- Block requests to the plugin's AJAX and REST routes at the reverse proxy or WAF layer for non-administrator sessions
- Restrict the WordPress database user privileges to the minimum required, removing FILE and limiting cross-database access
- Enforce strong registration controls such as CAPTCHA and email verification to slow automated subscriber creation
# Disable the plugin via WP-CLI until a patch is released
wp plugin deactivate activitytime
wp plugin delete activitytime
# Disable open registration in WordPress options
wp option update users_can_register 0
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
