CVE-2026-118803 in Bricks Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2026
Bricks Theme 2.4.3 and before contains an unauthenticated dynamic-data tag injection vulnerability that allows anonymous attackers to control the urlParams object in the query_result REST endpoint, causing the submitted value to be re-parsed as a Bricks dynamic data tag. Attackers can inject tags such as author_meta:user_pass, author_meta:user_email, or cf_coupon_amount to leak post meta and the post author's user record, including the password hash, without authentication.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2026
The vulnerability identified in Bricks Theme versions 2.4.3 and earlier represents a critical unauthenticated dynamic-data tag injection flaw within the WordPress ecosystem. This security issue stems from improper input validation and sanitization mechanisms applied to query parameters processed by the theme's REST API endpoints, specifically targeting the query_result endpoint. The core technical failure lies in how the application handles user-supplied data passed via URL parameters. Instead of treating these inputs strictly as literal strings or validated identifiers for database queries, the system inadvertently passes them through a parsing routine designed to interpret Bricks dynamic data tags. This architectural oversight allows an unauthenticated attacker to manipulate the urlParams object, effectively injecting malicious tag syntax that the backend interprets and executes rather than ignoring or escaping.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability exploits the theme's internal logic for resolving dynamic content such as post metadata, user information, and custom field values. When a request is made to the query_result endpoint with specially crafted parameters containing specific Bricks tags like author_meta:user_pass or cf_coupon_amount, the server processes these tags without verifying the requester's authentication status. The system retrieves sensitive data associated with the requested posts or users based on the injected tag instructions and returns this information in the API response. This mechanism bypasses standard WordPress capability checks because the vulnerability exists within a public-facing REST endpoint that does not enforce strict access controls for all its parameters, particularly those involved in dynamic content resolution.
The operational impact of this flaw is severe due to the potential for significant data exfiltration without any form of authentication. Attackers can leverage tags such as author_meta:user_pass to extract password hashes from user records associated with posts or pages managed by the theme. Similarly, using author_meta:user_email allows for the collection of email addresses linked to post authors, facilitating further attacks like phishing or credential stuffing campaigns. The ability to retrieve custom field data via tags like cf_coupon_amount expands the scope of impact beyond authentication credentials to include business-critical information stored in custom fields. This level of access effectively compromises the confidentiality and integrity of the website's database content, potentially leading to full account takeover if weak password hashes are cracked or used in conjunction with other vulnerabilities.
This vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code (Code Injection) as it involves injecting executable logic into a parser through untrusted input. Furthermore, from the perspective of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this behavior corresponds to T1505.003 Web Shell: WordPress Plugins and Themes or more accurately T1213 Data from Information Repositories when considering the exfiltration aspect, specifically leveraging public-facing web applications to access stored data. The lack of authentication required for exploitation places it in a high-risk category within vulnerability scoring systems like CVSS, as it allows remote code execution-like effects through information disclosure without prior compromise of user credentials.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching by updating the Bricks Theme to version 2.4.4 or later where this issue has been addressed. Until an update is applied, administrators should implement web application firewall rules that detect and block requests containing suspicious dynamic data tag syntax within REST API parameters. Additionally, restricting access to the query_result endpoint via IP whitelisting for trusted administrative networks can provide a temporary layer of defense. It is also advisable to audit user accounts with elevated privileges, ensuring strong password policies are enforced to mitigate the risk associated with exposed password hashes. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on REST API endpoints should be conducted to identify similar input validation flaws in other plugins or themes that may share comparable architectural patterns for handling dynamic content.