CVE-2026-115281 in Recipe Card Blocks Lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2026
The Recipe Card Blocks Lite WordPress plugin before 3.6.4 does not sanitize and cast a block and shortcode attribute before concatenating it into SQL queries, allowing authenticated users with Contributor-level access or above to perform SQL injection attacks.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Recipe Card Blocks Lite WordPress plugin prior to version 3.6.4 represents a critical security flaw rooted in insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's backend logic. Specifically, the defect occurs when processing block attributes and shortcode parameters that are intended for display or configuration purposes but are inadvertently passed directly into Structured Query Language statements without proper type casting or escaping. This architectural oversight allows maliciously crafted inputs to alter the structure of database queries executed by the underlying MySQL server. The flaw is particularly severe because it does not require administrative privileges, thereby expanding the attack surface significantly beyond high-privilege accounts to include lower-level user roles such as Contributors and Editors who are typically trusted with content creation but not system configuration.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of SQL Injection, which is formally classified in the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) database as CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. The root cause lies in the failure to enforce strict data typing or apply appropriate escaping functions such as prepare statements or real_escape_string before concatenating user-supplied values into dynamic query strings. When a Contributor-level user submits a request containing specially crafted block attributes, these inputs are interpreted by the database engine not merely as data but as executable SQL syntax. This misinterpretation enables the attacker to manipulate backend queries, potentially reading sensitive information from other tables, modifying existing records, or in certain configurations with specific server privileges, executing operating system commands through stacked queries or out-of-band interactions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial for any WordPress site utilizing the affected plugin version. Since authentication is required but only at a low privilege level, an attacker who has obtained Contributor credentials can exploit this flaw to extract sensitive data such as user passwords stored in hashed form within the wp_users table, retrieve configuration details from options tables that may reveal database connection strings or API keys, and potentially escalate privileges by modifying role assignments. This leads directly to unauthorized access, data breach, and potential compromise of the entire web application infrastructure hosting the WordPress instance. The ability to perform SQL injection at this level undermines the fundamental security model of multi-user content management systems where lower-level users are expected to have limited impact on system integrity.
This vulnerability aligns with specific tactics in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter if stacked queries allow for command execution, or more commonly T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application when considering the broader context of web application exploitation. It also relates to T1078: Valid Accounts since it relies on legitimate but low-privileged credentials. The lack of input sanitization is a classic example of how developers may prioritize functionality over security, assuming that lower-level users will not attempt malicious actions or failing to implement defense-in-depth strategies such as parameterized queries which would render the injection attempts ineffective regardless of user intent.
To mitigate this vulnerability and secure WordPress environments against similar threats, immediate action must be taken by updating the Recipe Card Blocks Lite plugin to version 3.6.4 or later where these input validation flaws have been addressed. In addition to patching, administrators should enforce strict principle of least privilege by auditing user roles and ensuring that only necessary users hold Contributor-level access or higher. Implementing a Web Application Firewall can provide an additional layer of defense by detecting and blocking common SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests before they reach the application logic. Furthermore, developers must adopt secure coding practices such as using prepared statements with parameterized queries for all database interactions to ensure that user input is always treated strictly as data rather than executable code, thereby neutralizing the risk of structural query manipulation entirely.