CVE-2026-40744: Beaver Builder SQL Injection Vulnerability

CVE-2026-40744 Overview

CVE-2026-40744 is a Blind SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the Beaver Builder plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability allows attackers with low-level authentication to inject malicious SQL commands through improperly neutralized input, potentially compromising the confidentiality of sensitive database information stored within the WordPress installation.

Critical Impact

Authenticated attackers can exploit this Blind SQL Injection vulnerability to extract sensitive data from the WordPress database, including user credentials, personal information, and site configuration data, with potential for cross-scope impact affecting other components.

Affected Products

• Beaver Builder Lite Version <= 2.10.1.2
• WordPress installations running vulnerable Beaver Builder versions

Discovery Timeline

• April 15, 2026 - CVE-2026-40744 published to NVD
• April 16, 2026 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-40744

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists in the Beaver Builder plugin, a popular WordPress page builder. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, specifically manifesting as a Blind SQL Injection attack vector.

Blind SQL Injection differs from traditional SQL Injection in that the attacker cannot directly see the results of the injected query. Instead, attackers must infer information based on the application's response behavior, such as response times (time-based blind SQLi) or changes in page content (boolean-based blind SQLi). This makes exploitation more time-consuming but still allows complete database enumeration.

The network-accessible attack vector combined with the requirement for only low-level privileges means that any authenticated WordPress user, including subscribers with minimal permissions, could potentially exploit this vulnerability. The changed scope indicator suggests that successful exploitation could impact resources beyond the vulnerable component itself.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2026-40744 is insufficient input validation and improper sanitization of user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL queries. The Beaver Builder plugin fails to properly escape or parameterize user input, allowing specially crafted SQL syntax to be interpreted as part of the database query rather than as literal data.

WordPress provides built-in functions such as $wpdb->prepare() for parameterized queries and various sanitization functions that, when properly implemented, prevent SQL injection attacks. The vulnerable code path in Beaver Builder versions through 2.10.1.2 does not adequately utilize these protective mechanisms.

Attack Vector

The attack is carried out over the network and requires the attacker to have low-level authentication to the WordPress site. The exploitation process typically involves:

1. An authenticated attacker identifies an input field or parameter processed by the vulnerable Beaver Builder functionality
2. The attacker crafts SQL injection payloads designed to manipulate the underlying database query
3. Using blind SQLi techniques, the attacker systematically extracts data by observing application responses
4. Sensitive information such as password hashes, user emails, and database contents can be exfiltrated character by character

Since no verified code examples are available for this vulnerability, organizations should refer to the Patchstack security advisory for detailed technical analysis of the vulnerable code paths and exploitation mechanics.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-40744

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database query patterns in WordPress logs, particularly queries with timing functions like SLEEP() or BENCHMARK()
• Increased database response times indicating time-based blind SQLi attempts
• Authentication logs showing repeated requests from authenticated users with suspicious query parameters
• Web application firewall alerts for SQL injection patterns targeting Beaver Builder endpoints

Detection Strategies

• Monitor WordPress access logs for requests containing SQL syntax characters such as single quotes, semicolons, and SQL keywords targeting Beaver Builder routes
• Implement database query logging to identify anomalous query patterns or unauthorized data access attempts
• Deploy web application firewall rules specifically targeting blind SQL injection techniques
• Enable WordPress security plugins that monitor for injection attempts and suspicious parameter manipulation

Monitoring Recommendations

• Configure real-time alerting for SQL injection signatures in web server and application logs
• Monitor database server performance metrics for unusual spikes that may indicate time-based exploitation
• Implement user behavior analytics to detect authenticated accounts performing unusual data access patterns
• Review Beaver Builder-related database queries for unexpected or malformed syntax

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-40744

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Beaver Builder plugin to the latest patched version immediately
• Audit WordPress user accounts and remove unnecessary authenticated users, especially those with subscriber or contributor roles
• Enable web application firewall rules to block SQL injection attempts
• Review database access logs for signs of prior exploitation

Patch Information

Organizations should update the Beaver Builder plugin beyond version 2.10.1.2 to address this vulnerability. The Patchstack vulnerability database provides additional details on the affected versions and remediation guidance.

Administrators should access the WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins, and check for available updates to Beaver Builder. If automatic updates are not enabled, manually download and install the latest version from the WordPress plugin repository.

Workarounds

• Implement a web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules as a temporary protective measure
• Restrict authenticated user access to only essential personnel until the patch is applied
• Consider temporarily disabling the Beaver Builder plugin if it is not critical to site operations
• Use WordPress security plugins like Wordfence or Sucuri to add additional SQL injection protection layers

# Configuration example - Enable WordPress debug logging to monitor for exploitation attempts
# Add to wp-config.php to help identify suspicious database activity

# Enable WordPress debugging
define('WP_DEBUG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_LOG', true);
define('WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false);

# Verify Beaver Builder version via WP-CLI
wp plugin list --name=beaver-builder-lite-version --fields=name,version,update

# Update Beaver Builder to latest version
wp plugin update beaver-builder-lite-version