CVE-2026-48967 Overview
CVE-2026-48967 is a SQL injection vulnerability affecting the Geo Mashup plugin for WordPress in versions up to and including 1.13.19. The flaw allows authenticated users with Subscriber-level privileges to inject SQL statements into database queries processed by the plugin. Because WordPress sites routinely permit low-privilege account registration, the barrier to exploitation is minimal. The issue is tracked under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. Successful exploitation can disclose database contents and disrupt site availability.
Critical Impact
A Subscriber-level account can extract sensitive data from the WordPress database and impact site availability through crafted SQL payloads.
Affected Products
- WordPress Geo Mashup plugin versions <= 1.13.19
- WordPress sites that allow Subscriber-level account registration with the plugin installed
- Any deployment exposing Geo Mashup endpoints to authenticated requests
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-17 - CVE-2026-48967 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-48967
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Geo Mashup WordPress plugin, which provides geographic mapping features for posts and content. The plugin accepts user-controlled input from authenticated requests and concatenates that input into SQL statements without adequate sanitization or parameterization. An attacker holding a Subscriber account, the lowest standard authenticated role in WordPress, can craft requests that alter query semantics. The attack vector is network-based with low complexity, and the scope is changed because injected queries can read data outside the plugin's intended boundary. Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for vendor-specific technical details.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special characters in SQL statements [CWE-89]. The plugin builds queries by concatenating request parameters into SQL strings rather than using prepared statements or the WordPress $wpdb->prepare() API. This pattern allows attacker-supplied input to break out of the intended query context and append arbitrary clauses.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker with Subscriber privileges sends a crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable Geo Mashup endpoint. The request includes a parameter containing SQL metacharacters and an injected payload such as a UNION SELECT clause. The plugin passes the unsanitized input to the database driver, which executes the modified query. The attacker can then exfiltrate rows from wp_users, wp_usermeta, or other tables, including password hashes and session tokens.
No verified public exploit code is available. See the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for additional context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-48967
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to Geo Mashup endpoints containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA in query parameters
- Unexpected database errors in the PHP or web server error log referencing Geo Mashup query paths
- Newly created administrator accounts or modified wp_users rows following Subscriber activity
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server access logs for authenticated Subscriber sessions issuing requests with encoded SQL syntax
- Enable WordPress query logging or a database audit plugin to flag queries containing suspicious UNION-based or boolean-based patterns originating from Geo Mashup code paths
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule that inspects parameters submitted to geo_mashup endpoints for SQL injection signatures
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on Subscriber accounts that issue high volumes of requests to plugin endpoints
- Monitor for outbound database errors and HTTP 500 responses correlated with Geo Mashup URLs
- Track creation of new privileged WordPress accounts and out-of-band changes to user metadata
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-48967
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Geo Mashup plugin to a version later than 1.13.19 once a patched release is published by the maintainer
- Disable the Geo Mashup plugin if a patched version is not yet available and the functionality is non-essential
- Restrict open registration on WordPress sites where the plugin is installed to limit Subscriber-level access
Patch Information
Consult the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for the latest patch status and fixed version information. Apply the vendor-supplied update through the WordPress plugin manager once available, and verify the installed version reports higher than 1.13.19.
Workarounds
- Place a WAF rule in front of the site that blocks SQL metacharacters in parameters submitted to Geo Mashup endpoints
- Temporarily revoke Subscriber registration and audit existing low-privilege accounts for unexpected activity
- Apply least-privilege principles by removing unused accounts and enforcing strong authentication for all WordPress roles
# Disable the Geo Mashup plugin using WP-CLI until a patch is applied
wp plugin deactivate geo-mashup
# Verify installed version
wp plugin get geo-mashup --field=version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
