Description

Unauthenticated SQL Injection in Affiliates Manager <= 2.9.53 versions.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "9.3",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-18T15:17:03.780Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-18T15:17:03.780Z",
  "executiveSummary": "An unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability has been identified in the Affiliates Manager plugin in versions <= 2.9.53. This security flaw allows remote, unauthenticated attackers to manipulate SQL queries by injecting arbitrary SQL commands into vulnerable parameters processed by the application.\nThe primary impact of this vulnerability includes unauthorized access to sensitive database contents, potential data exfiltration, modification or deletion of database records, and in severe scenarios, complete compromise of the underlying database management system depending on database user privileges.\nThe affected product is the Affiliates Manager plugin across all versions up to and including 2.9.53. The risk implications are critical because exploitation requires no prior authentication, allowing any network-based attacker to interact directly with the vulnerable endpoints.\nNo complex exploitation requirements or user interaction are necessary to trigger the flaw, making automated scanning and exploitation straightforward for malicious actors. Remediation requires updating the affected plugin to a patched version once available or applying strict input sanitization controls.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, commonly known as SQL Injection (SQLi). Within the vulnerable Affiliates Manager <= 2.9.53 codebase, user-supplied input parameters are concatenated or dynamically incorporated directly into database queries without adequate parameterization, escaping, or type casting.\nThe vulnerable components involve PHP functions and database abstraction layers within the Affiliates Manager plugin that handle incoming HTTP requests without validating or sanitizing the input data before passing it to database query execution routines.\nAttackers exploit this flaw by sending crafted HTTP requests containing malicious SQL payloads directed at vulnerable plugin endpoints or parameters. When the application processes the request, the injected SQL syntax alters the logic of the original database query executed against the backend database management system.\nThe attack flow proceeds as follows: First, the unauthenticated attacker identifies a vulnerable input vector exposed over the network via HTTP GET or POST methods. Second, the attacker crafts a payload utilizing SQL operators, UNION statements, or stacked queries to extract information or manipulate data. Third, the application executes the modified query with the database privileges assigned to the web application connection. Finally, the database returns the query results or error messages, which may reveal database schema details, administrative credentials, or sensitive application data to the attacker.\nAuthentication and privilege requirements are entirely absent, as the vector is accessible without a session or user account. Network exposure is broad, requiring only HTTP or HTTPS access to the web server hosting the vulnerable WordPress installation.\nPost-exploitation impact ranges from reading sensitive tables containing user credentials and affiliate data to potential remote code execution if database features such as INTO OUTFILE are leveraged in conjunction with web root access."
}