CVE-2026-78470 Overview
CVE-2026-78470 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the WP Project Manager Pro plugin for WordPress in all versions up to and including 4.0.1. The flaw stems from insufficient escaping of user-supplied parameters combined with a lack of proper SQL query preparation. Authenticated attackers with Subscriber-level access or above can append additional SQL queries to existing statements. Successful exploitation allows extraction of sensitive information from the WordPress database, including credentials, session tokens, and project data. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-89, Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with minimal Subscriber privileges can extract confidential data from the WordPress database through crafted SQL query fragments.
Affected Products
- WeDevs WP Project Manager Pro plugin for WordPress
- All versions up to and including 4.0.1
- WordPress instances with the plugin active and users at Subscriber-level or above
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-08-25 - CVE-2026-78470 published to NVD
- 2026-08-26 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-78470
Vulnerability Analysis
The WP Project Manager Pro plugin constructs SQL queries using user-supplied input without sufficient escaping or parameterization. Attackers holding a Subscriber account, the lowest authenticated WordPress role, can send crafted request parameters to affected plugin endpoints. The injected fragments modify the resulting SQL statement executed against the WordPress database. This exposes data confidentiality but does not directly modify data or affect availability, according to the reported impact profile.
The issue falls under CWE-89: SQL Injection. Additional analysis is available in the Wordfence Vulnerability Report.
Root Cause
The root cause is twofold. First, the plugin fails to escape user-controlled parameters before concatenating them into SQL query strings. Second, the underlying queries do not use prepared statements or the WordPress $wpdb->prepare() API with proper placeholders. This combination allows attacker-controlled data to break out of the intended query context and introduce arbitrary SQL clauses.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the WordPress site and an authenticated Subscriber-level account. Subscriber registration is often open by default on WordPress sites that allow user registration, lowering the barrier for exploitation. The attacker submits a request to a vulnerable plugin endpoint with a crafted parameter that appends a UNION SELECT or similar SQL construct. The resulting response, or a blind exfiltration technique, leaks database contents such as wp_users records including password hashes and session tokens.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available at the time of publication. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Report and the vendor product page for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-78470
Indicators of Compromise
- Requests to WP Project Manager Pro AJAX or REST endpoints containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, SELECT, SLEEP(, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA
- Unexpected long-running database queries originating from the WordPress web process
- Authenticated Subscriber-level accounts issuing high volumes of plugin API calls in short intervals
- Web server logs showing HTTP 500 errors correlated with malformed plugin parameters
Detection Strategies
- Deploy a WordPress-aware web application firewall with signatures for SQL injection patterns targeting admin-ajax.php and plugin REST routes
- Enable MySQL general or slow query logging and alert on queries containing suspicious concatenations from plugin code paths
- Correlate WordPress authentication events with subsequent plugin endpoint activity to identify low-privilege accounts probing the plugin
Monitoring Recommendations
- Audit all Subscriber-level and newly registered accounts, especially on sites with open registration
- Monitor outbound network traffic from the web server for exfiltration of database contents
- Track file integrity of the wp-project-manager plugin directory to detect tampering or webshell placement following data theft
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-78470
Immediate Actions Required
- Update WP Project Manager Pro to a version later than 4.0.1 as soon as the vendor releases a patched release
- Disable the plugin on production sites until a fixed version is confirmed installed
- Rotate WordPress administrator passwords and invalidate active sessions if exploitation is suspected
- Review and remove unnecessary Subscriber-level accounts and disable open user registration where not required
Patch Information
At the time of publication, consult the WeDevs Project Manager Pro product page and the Wordfence Vulnerability Report for the latest fixed version and vendor advisory. Apply the patched release across all WordPress sites using the plugin.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin REST endpoints using web application firewall rules that block SQL injection payloads
- Disable new user registration in WordPress settings under Settings > General by unchecking Anyone can register
- Limit plugin functionality to trusted authenticated users only, and enforce least privilege on all WordPress roles
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
