CVE-2026-48837: Unlimited Elements SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2026-48837 Overview

CVE-2026-48837 is a Blind SQL Injection vulnerability in the Unlimited Elements For Elementor WordPress plugin. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands [CWE-89]. Attackers with low-privilege authenticated access can inject arbitrary SQL through vulnerable parameters and infer database contents from indirect responses.

The vulnerability affects all versions of Unlimited Elements For Elementor up to and including 2.0.8. The issue carries a scope-changed impact, meaning successful exploitation can affect components beyond the vulnerable plugin itself.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can extract sensitive database contents, including user credentials and WordPress secrets, through blind SQL injection against sites running Unlimited Elements For Elementor 2.0.8 or earlier.

Affected Products

Unlimited Elements For Elementor plugin for WordPress
All versions from initial release through 2.0.8
WordPress sites using the Free Widgets, Addons, and Templates variant

Discovery Timeline

2026-05-25 - CVE-2026-48837 published to NVD
2026-05-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-48837

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is classified as Blind SQL Injection under [CWE-89]. The plugin processes user-supplied input and passes it into SQL queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. Because the application does not return query results directly, attackers rely on boolean conditions and time-based payloads to extract data character by character.

The attack vector is network-based and requires low privileges, meaning any authenticated user with minimal permissions can attempt exploitation. No user interaction is needed. The scope change indicates that exploitation can impact resources managed by a different security authority, such as the underlying WordPress database shared across plugins.

The EPSS probability for this CVE is currently low, but blind SQL injection in WordPress plugins is a recurring target for opportunistic attackers once public details emerge.

Root Cause

The root cause is the construction of SQL statements using concatenated user input rather than prepared statements with bound parameters. The plugin fails to apply WordPress core sanitization helpers such as $wpdb->prepare() to input received through plugin endpoints.

Attack Vector

An authenticated attacker submits crafted parameters to a vulnerable plugin endpoint. The injected SQL alters the original query logic, allowing the attacker to issue boolean or time-based probes against the WordPress database. Repeated probes reveal table contents including the wp_users table, session tokens, and option values such as secret_keys.

For technical details, refer to the Patchstack Security Vulnerability Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-48837

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual query patterns in WordPress database logs containing SQL keywords such as SLEEP, BENCHMARK, UNION SELECT, or AND 1=1 against plugin endpoints
Repeated requests from a single authenticated session to Unlimited Elements For Elementor endpoints with varying parameter values
Spikes in database response latency correlating with time-based blind injection probes
HTTP 200 responses to plugin endpoints with abnormally long request parameter strings

Detection Strategies

Inspect web server access logs for requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php carrying the plugin's action parameter combined with SQL metacharacters
Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) ruleset targeting SQL injection signatures on WordPress plugin endpoints
Enable WordPress query monitoring or SAVEQUERIES to surface anomalous queries originating from plugin code paths
Correlate authenticated user activity with high volumes of plugin-specific requests over short intervals

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward WordPress, PHP-FPM, and database logs to a centralized log analytics platform for retention and correlation
Alert on database errors mentioning syntax issues tied to plugin file paths under wp-content/plugins/unlimited-elements-for-elementor/
Track newly created administrator accounts or modifications to wp_users and wp_usermeta tables following suspicious plugin activity

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-48837

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Unlimited Elements For Elementor to a version released after 2.0.8 once the vendor publishes a fix
Audit WordPress user accounts and rotate administrator passwords, application passwords, and authentication keys defined in wp-config.php
Restrict plugin access to trusted authenticated users only and remove unused contributor or subscriber accounts
Review recent database modifications and backups for signs of unauthorized data extraction

Patch Information

Review the Patchstack Security Vulnerability Report for the latest fixed version information. Apply updates through the WordPress plugin dashboard or by replacing the plugin directory under wp-content/plugins/.

Workarounds

Deactivate the Unlimited Elements For Elementor plugin until a patched release is installed
Place the WordPress site behind a WAF with SQL injection protections enabled in blocking mode
Restrict access to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php for unauthenticated or low-privilege roles using server-level access controls
Apply least-privilege database credentials so the WordPress MySQL user cannot read tables outside the WordPress schema

bash

# Example WAF rule (ModSecurity) blocking common SQLi patterns against the plugin
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php" \
    "chain,id:1002601,phase:2,deny,status:403,msg:'Possible SQLi against Unlimited Elements For Elementor'"
    SecRule ARGS "@rx (?i)(union(\s|\+)+select|sleep\s*\(|benchmark\s*\(|or\s+1=1)" "t:none,t:urlDecodeUni"