CVE-2015-10146 in Thumbnail Slider with Lightbox Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2025
The Thumbnail Slider With Lightbox plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the 'id' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.4 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Administrator-level access and above, to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2025
The CVE-2015-10146 vulnerability affects the Thumbnail Slider With Lightbox WordPress plugin, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the system to unauthorized data access. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user-supplied input through the 'id' parameter, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries. The issue is particularly concerning because it requires only authenticated access with administrator-level privileges, making it accessible to users who already have significant control over the WordPress installation. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and the absence of proper SQL query preparation mechanisms, which are fundamental security practices that should be implemented to prevent such attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic SQL injection flaw where the plugin fails to properly escape or parameterize the 'id' parameter before incorporating it into database queries. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code that becomes part of the existing query structure rather than being treated as literal input. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. When an authenticated administrator accesses the plugin functionality with a maliciously crafted 'id' parameter, the system processes the input without proper validation, enabling the attacker to append additional SQL commands that can manipulate or extract data from the underlying database. This type of attack follows the ATT&CK framework's technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for network service scanning, as the attacker leverages legitimate administrative access to execute unauthorized database operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, administrative details, and potentially other database contents. An attacker with administrator privileges can exploit this vulnerability to escalate their access further, potentially gaining control over the entire WordPress installation and any associated data. The vulnerability affects all versions of the plugin up to and including 1.0.4, indicating that the developers failed to implement proper input validation or prepared statement mechanisms during the plugin's development lifecycle. This flaw represents a failure in secure coding practices and demonstrates how even authenticated access can be weaponized when proper input sanitization is absent. Organizations using this plugin face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited to compromise not only the WordPress site but potentially other systems that rely on the same database infrastructure, making it a critical concern for cybersecurity teams managing WordPress environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-10146 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the SQL injection vulnerability, though users must ensure the update process is secure and does not introduce additional risks. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on queries that appear to contain SQL injection payloads. Database access controls should be reviewed to ensure that the WordPress database user account has the minimum required privileges, limiting the potential damage from any successful exploitation. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin code, along with using prepared statements for all database queries, would prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Security audits should include thorough examination of all WordPress plugins for proper input sanitization and SQL query handling to prevent similar issues from being introduced through third-party components.