CVE-2026-119155 in wpForo Forum Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2026
The wpForo Forum plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via the 'href[locale]' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 3.2.2 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database. The nonce required for exploitation is publicly issued to unauthenticated visitors on any forum page via the wpforo.nonces JavaScript object, meaning no account or prior interaction beyond a page load is required to obtain it.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2026
The vulnerability identified in the wpForo Forum plugin for WordPress represents a critical security flaw classified as an Unrestricted Upload of Functionality with Wrong Path and specifically manifests as a time-based blind SQL injection. This issue affects all versions up to and including 3.2.2, stemming from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application code. The core technical failure lies in how the plugin handles user-supplied data passed through the href[locale] parameter. Instead of properly escaping special characters or utilizing prepared statements with bound parameters, the application directly interpolates this variable into SQL queries. This lack of proper preparation allows an attacker to manipulate the structure of the database query by injecting malicious SQL syntax that alters the intended logic of the command executed against the backend database management system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its unauthenticated nature and the ease with which it can be exploited. Typically, many WordPress vulnerabilities require a user to have at least subscriber-level access or to perform specific authenticated actions before an attack vector becomes available. However, in this case, the exploitation does not require any prior authentication or complex interaction sequences beyond loading a forum page. The wpForo plugin issues nonces required for certain AJAX requests via the wpforo.nonces JavaScript object, which is embedded directly into the HTML source code of every public-facing forum page. This design choice inadvertently exposes the necessary cryptographic tokens to unauthenticated visitors, effectively removing one of the primary barriers against cross-site request forgery and injection attacks that rely on valid session identifiers or action nonces.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which describes Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command. The attacker can leverage time-based blind techniques to infer data from the database by observing response times when specific conditional statements are evaluated as true versus false. This method allows for the extraction of sensitive information such as administrative credentials, user emails, and other confidential data stored within the WordPress database without triggering obvious error messages that might alert administrators or intrusion detection systems. The ability to extract this data remotely means that an attacker can compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the entire website's backend infrastructure if left unpatched.
This exploitation technique maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK techniques, specifically T1059.004 for SQL Injection under Command and Scripting Interpreter abuse, and potentially T1136.001 for Create Account: Web Account Creation if the attacker uses extracted credentials to gain persistent access. Furthermore, because the nonce is publicly available via client-side JavaScript, it also touches upon aspects of information disclosure where sensitive operational data is exposed in a manner that facilitates further attacks. The combination of unauthenticated access and easy-to-obtain nonces makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous for high-traffic sites or those handling sensitive user data.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching to the latest version of the wpForo plugin, which addresses these input validation flaws by implementing proper parameterized queries and stricter escaping mechanisms. Until an update is applied, administrators should consider disabling the specific AJAX endpoints that utilize the vulnerable href[locale] parameter if possible through server-side configuration or firewall rules. Additionally, reviewing the JavaScript output to ensure nonces are not unnecessarily exposed in public-facing pages can reduce the attack surface for similar vulnerabilities in other plugins. Regular security audits and the implementation of a Web Application Firewall with SQL injection detection signatures can provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts targeting this specific weakness.