CVE-2026-15018 in Database Collation Fix Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/01/2026
The Database Collation Fix plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via the 'force-collation-algorithm' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.10 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. Exploitation requires a trigger.txt file to be present in the plugin's directory (/wp-content/plugins/database-collation-fix/trigger.txt), a condition created by DesktopServer integration events such as site creation, copy, import, move, export, or deploy.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2026
The Database Collation Fix plugin for WordPress presents a critical time-based sql injection vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 1.2.10. This security flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and parameter handling within the plugin's codebase, specifically in how it processes the 'force-collation-algorithm' parameter. The vulnerability manifests when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into sql queries without proper escaping mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to manipulate existing database operations through crafted input sequences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a time-based sql injection attack vector where malicious actors can inject additional sql commands that execute slowly, thereby revealing information through timing differences in database responses. The flaw operates on the principle that when certain sql queries are executed with manipulated parameters, they will take longer to complete when specific conditions are met, enabling attackers to extract data character by character through careful timing analysis. This type of injection is particularly dangerous because it does not require authentication and can be exploited by anyone who can submit requests to the vulnerable parameter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with a method to extract sensitive database content including user credentials, administrative information, and other confidential data stored within the wordpress installation. The attack requires a specific trigger condition involving the presence of a trigger.txt file in the plugin's directory path, which is typically created during DesktopServer integration processes such as site creation, copying, importing, moving, exporting, or deploying operations. This dependency on specific integration events actually makes the vulnerability more targeted but also more persistent once triggered.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as aligning with common weakness enumerations such as cwe-89 sql injection and cwe-20 improper input validation, while the attack pattern corresponds to techniques documented in the attack tree framework under command execution and data manipulation categories. The time-based nature of the exploitation technique places this vulnerability in the category of blind sql injection attacks where traditional output-based detection methods prove ineffective. Mitigation strategies should include immediate plugin updates to versions that properly escape user input, implementing web application firewalls with sql injection detection rules, and removing or securing the trigger.txt file if it's not actively required for legitimate operations.
Organizations running vulnerable wordpress installations should prioritize patching this issue as a critical security measure since the lack of authentication requirements makes exploitation particularly dangerous. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign plugin functionality can create significant security risks when proper input validation and parameter handling practices are not implemented. Additionally, regular security monitoring should be implemented to detect any unauthorized creation of trigger files that might enable this attack vector, while also ensuring that all wordpress plugins undergo thorough security reviews before deployment in production environments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced through third-party components.