CVE-2026-15399 in Animated Number Counters Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/13/2026
The Animated Number Counters plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to generic SQL Injection via the 'counterid' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 3.0 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with editor-level access and above, to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database. This is a second-order SQL injection: the write path correctly uses $wpdb->prepare(), but that protection is not carried forward to the read path, where the retrieved value is concatenated unsanitized into unprepared queries in both a single-quoted string context and a bare numeric context.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2026
The vulnerability identified within the Animated Number Counters plugin for WordPress represents a significant security risk due to its potential for data exfiltration through SQL injection techniques. This flaw exists in all versions up to and including 3.0, stemming from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms applied to the counterid parameter. While modern web applications often implement robust protections during data insertion phases, this specific vulnerability highlights a critical oversight where those safeguards are not consistently applied across all database interaction points within the application logic. The core issue lies in the disparity between how user-supplied data is handled when being written into the database versus how it is subsequently retrieved and processed for display or further computation.
From a technical perspective, this constitutes a second-order SQL injection vulnerability. In such scenarios, an attacker does not need to inject malicious code directly during the initial request that triggers immediate execution. Instead, the attack involves storing potentially dangerous input within the application's database through a legitimate write path that correctly utilizes prepared statements via $wpdb->prepare(). This step effectively neutralizes any immediate threat at the point of entry because the data is properly escaped and parameterized before being committed to storage. However, the vulnerability emerges when this stored value is later retrieved from the database and used in subsequent read operations. In these downstream processes, the application fails to re-apply necessary sanitization or preparation steps. Instead, it concatenates the unsanitized counterid value directly into SQL queries. This occurs in two distinct contexts: within single-quoted string literals and as bare numeric values intended for mathematical comparison or selection criteria.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, particularly given the authentication requirements associated with exploiting it. Attackers must possess at least editor-level access or higher privileges to trigger the initial write operation that stores the malicious payload in the database. Once authenticated, an attacker can craft specific counterid values designed to manipulate SQL logic upon retrieval. By appending additional SQL queries into existing ones, these attackers can extract sensitive information from the underlying WordPress database. This may include user credentials, configuration details containing API keys or secret tokens, and other proprietary data stored within the site's tables. The ability to execute arbitrary SQL commands effectively compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the entire web application environment dependent on this plugin.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) identifiers such as CWE-89 for Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, specifically highlighting the failure to neutralize special elements during dynamic query construction. Furthermore, it maps to MITRE ATT&CK techniques related to Data from Information Repositories and potentially T1059 if further exploitation leads to command execution through database extensions like xp_cmdshell on Microsoft SQL Server environments, although primarily this instance facilitates data extraction rather than direct system compromise. The lack of consistent parameterization across both write and read paths demonstrates a common architectural flaw where security controls are siloed rather than applied holistically throughout the application lifecycle.
Mitigation strategies for organizations utilizing this plugin must prioritize immediate remediation through software updates or removal if no patch is available from the vendor. Administrators should ensure that all plugins are updated to their latest stable versions, which typically address such inconsistencies in input handling. For environments where updating is not immediately feasible, implementing strict role-based access control (RBAC) can limit exposure by restricting editor-level and higher privileges to trusted individuals only. Additionally, deploying a Web Application Firewall with rules capable of detecting anomalous SQL patterns in response payloads may provide an additional layer of defense against exploitation attempts. Long-term architectural improvements should enforce the principle that all database interactions, whether for reading or writing data, must utilize prepared statements exclusively to prevent injection vulnerabilities regardless of where the input originated.