CVE-2026-0677 in TotalContest Lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2026
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in TotalSuite TotalContest Lite totalcontest-lite allows Object Injection.This issue affects TotalContest Lite: from n/a through <= 2.9.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/10/2026
The CVE-2026-0677 vulnerability represents a critical deserialization flaw in the TotalSuite TotalContest Lite plugin for WordPress, classified as a deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability under CWE-502. This weakness occurs when the application processes serialized data from untrusted sources without proper validation or sanitization, creating an avenue for object injection attacks that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions ranging from the initial release through 2.9.1, indicating a prolonged exposure window that could have allowed attackers to develop and deploy exploitation techniques against vulnerable installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate serialized data inputs during the deserialization process, creating a path for attackers to inject malicious objects that can be executed when the data is processed. When an attacker successfully exploits this flaw, they can leverage the object injection mechanism to execute arbitrary commands on the target system with the privileges of the web server process. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as the malicious serialized data can trigger code execution through legitimate system processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent access, escalate privileges, and potentially compromise the entire WordPress installation. Attackers can use this vulnerability to upload malicious files, modify existing content, create backdoor accounts, or even use the compromised system as a launchpad for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The affected nature of the TotalContest Lite plugin means that any website using this specific version range becomes a potential target, particularly those that do not implement proper input validation or security monitoring measures.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate remediation through updating to a patched version of the TotalContest Lite plugin, as the vulnerability's exposure window suggests that attackers may have already developed working exploitation methods. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious deserialization activities and consider implementing web application firewalls to block known malicious payloads. The mitigation strategy should also include regular security audits of all installed plugins and themes, along with establishing robust input validation procedures to prevent similar issues in other components of the WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper sanitization of user inputs and the need for comprehensive security testing during software development lifecycle processes to prevent such dangerous deserialization flaws from reaching production environments.