CVE-2026-7048 Overview
CVE-2026-7048 is a time-based blind SQL injection vulnerability in the Photo Gallery by 10Web – Mobile-Friendly Image Gallery plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.8.40. The vulnerability resides in the order_by parameter, which is processed without sufficient escaping or query preparation. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level access or above can append arbitrary SQL to existing queries by embedding a malicious shortcode in a post or draft. When the shortcode renders, the injected SQL executes against the WordPress database, enabling extraction of sensitive data.
Critical Impact
Authenticated contributors can exfiltrate database contents — including user credentials, session tokens, and configuration secrets — through time-based blind SQL injection delivered via WordPress shortcodes.
Affected Products
- Photo Gallery by 10Web – Mobile-Friendly Image Gallery plugin for WordPress
- All versions up to and including 1.8.40
- WordPress sites permitting contributor-level (or higher) user registration
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-05-28 - CVE-2026-7048 published to NVD
- 2026-05-28 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-7048
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is classified as [CWE-89] Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. The plugin accepts the order_by parameter from user-controlled input and concatenates it into an SQL query without proper escaping or use of wpdb::prepare() placeholders. Because the injection point is an ORDER BY clause, standard UNION-based extraction is constrained, so attackers rely on time-based blind techniques using payloads such as SLEEP() or BENCHMARK() to infer data one character at a time.
The vulnerable code paths reside in framework/WDWLibrary.php and frontend/controllers/controller.php, where the order_by value flows into the query construction logic. Confidentiality impact is high while integrity and availability are unaffected, consistent with a read-only data extraction primitive.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient input validation and absence of parameterized queries for the order_by parameter. WordPress's wpdb API supports placeholder-based query preparation, but the plugin builds the ORDER BY clause using direct string concatenation. Since ORDER BY values cannot be passed as standard %s or %d placeholders, developers must explicitly allowlist column names — a control absent from the affected versions.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires an authenticated session with contributor privileges or higher. The attacker creates or edits a post or draft and embeds the plugin's shortcode with a crafted order_by attribute containing a SQL payload. When the post is rendered — for example, during a preview or after publication — the shortcode handler executes the tainted query. Time-based responses indicate truth values, allowing iterative extraction of sensitive database content such as the wp_users table.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is referenced in the advisory. Technical analysis is available in the Wordfence Vulnerability Report and the vendor changeset.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-7048
Indicators of Compromise
- Database query logs containing SLEEP(, BENCHMARK(, or WAITFOR DELAY within ORDER BY clauses originating from the Photo Gallery plugin.
- Anomalously long page render times on posts containing the plugin's shortcode.
- Post or draft content authored by contributor-level accounts that embeds the plugin shortcode with unusual order_by attribute values.
- Unexpected database errors referencing the plugin's frontend controller in PHP error logs.
Detection Strategies
- Review WordPress audit logs for contributor-level accounts creating or editing posts that include the Photo Gallery shortcode.
- Enable MySQL general query logging or slow query logging and alert on queries from the plugin containing time-delay functions.
- Deploy a web application firewall rule that inspects POST bodies for shortcode attributes carrying SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP, or IF(.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor the wp_posts table for newly created drafts containing the plugin shortcode from non-administrator accounts.
- Track HTTP response latency on endpoints that render plugin shortcodes; sustained multi-second responses warrant investigation.
- Audit WordPress role assignments to identify unexpected contributor or author accounts that could be used for exploitation.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-7048
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Photo Gallery by 10Web plugin to a version newer than 1.8.40 as soon as the vendor patch is available.
- Audit and remove unnecessary contributor, author, and editor accounts to reduce the authenticated attack surface.
- Inspect existing posts and drafts for suspicious uses of the plugin shortcode with non-standard order_by attribute values.
- Rotate WordPress administrator passwords and database credentials if exploitation is suspected.
Patch Information
The vendor committed a fix in the WordPress plugin repository, referenced as changeset 3532364 for the photo-gallery plugin. Site administrators should upgrade through the WordPress plugin updater. Review the vendor changeset and the Wordfence advisory for full remediation details.
Workarounds
- Temporarily deactivate the Photo Gallery plugin until the patched version is installed.
- Restrict the edit_posts capability so that only trusted, vetted users can create or edit content containing shortcodes.
- Deploy a WordPress-aware web application firewall with virtual patching rules covering this CVE.
- Disable shortcode rendering in post previews for non-privileged users where feasible.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
