CVE-2026-12877 in Project Management, Bug and Issue Tracking Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/24/2026
The Project Management, Bug and Issue Tracking Plugin WordPress plugin before 5.1.0 does not sanitise and escape user supplied input before using it in a SQL query, allowing unauthenticated attackers to perform SQL injection attacks. This is exploitable in the Project Management, Bug and Issue Tracking Plugin WordPress plugin before 5.1.0's standard front-end issue-tracker configuration.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2026
The Project Management, Bug and Issue Tracking Plugin for WordPress represents a widely used tool for managing project workflows and bug tracking within web applications. This plugin facilitates the creation and management of issues through a front-end interface that allows users to submit reports and track progress on various project elements. The vulnerability affects versions prior to 5.1.0, indicating that this flaw has existed for an extended period within the plugin's codebase. Security researchers identified that the plugin fails to properly sanitise and escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries, creating a critical security gap that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers.
The technical flaw manifests specifically in how the plugin handles input from its standard front-end issue-tracker configuration interface. When users submit data through this interface, the plugin processes this information without adequate validation or sanitisation measures. This lack of input sanitisation creates a classic sql injection vulnerability where malicious actors can craft specially formatted input that gets directly embedded into database queries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates in the front-end interface, meaning attackers do not require any authentication credentials to exploit the flaw. The absence of proper escaping mechanisms allows attackers to inject malicious sql commands that can manipulate the underlying database structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or theft. An unauthenticated attacker could potentially execute arbitrary sql commands against the WordPress database, leading to complete database compromise. This scenario enables various malicious activities including but not limited to data exfiltration, unauthorized user account creation, modification of existing project data, and potential privilege escalation within the application. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the plugin's issue tracking system, which means that legitimate users may experience service disruption while attackers exploit the flaw to gain unauthorized access. Additionally, since this vulnerability exists in a plugin commonly used for project management, the compromised data could contain sensitive information related to development projects, bug reports, and user communications.
The vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws, and can be mapped to attack techniques within the mitre att&ck framework under T1190 for exploitation of remote services. Organizations using affected versions of this plugin face significant risk exposure since the vulnerability requires no authentication credentials and operates through standard web application interfaces that are typically accessible to all users. The impact is exacerbated by the fact that many organizations may not actively monitor their plugin versions, leaving them vulnerable to attacks that could be easily mitigated through simple updates.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading to version 5.1.0 or later of the Project Management, Bug and Issue Tracking Plugin. This update addresses the specific sanitisation and escaping mechanisms that were missing in earlier versions. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as web application firewalls, input validation at multiple layers, and regular security audits of their wordpress installations. Database access controls should be reviewed to ensure that the application's database user accounts have minimal required privileges, reducing potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring for unusual database activity patterns can help detect exploitation attempts even if the primary vulnerability is patched. System administrators should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely updates of all wordpress plugins and core components, preventing similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in production environments.