CVE-2026-18884 in WooCommerce Lottery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
The WooCommerce Lottery plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Time-Based SQL Injection via 'orderby' and 'order' GET Parameters in all versions up to, and including, 2.2.9 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The WooCommerce Lottery plugin, a widely utilized extension for WordPress e-commerce platforms, has been identified with a critical security flaw affecting all versions up to and including 2.2.9. This vulnerability manifests as a Time-Based SQL Injection, specifically targeting the 'orderby' and 'order' GET parameters within the application's request handling logic. The root cause of this issue lies in insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms applied to user-supplied data before it is incorporated into database queries. Unlike standard injection vectors that rely on immediate error messages or visible output changes, time-based injections exploit differences in response times caused by the execution of injected SQL commands such as SLEEP() or BENCHMARK(). This technique allows attackers to infer information about the database structure and content even when direct data exfiltration is not immediately apparent through page responses.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly escape user input and lack of prepared statements for existing SQL queries. When an unauthenticated attacker submits maliciously crafted values in the 'orderby' or 'order' parameters, these inputs are directly concatenated into SQL commands without adequate sanitization. This allows the injection of arbitrary SQL code that modifies the intended query logic. Because WordPress plugins often interact with complex database schemas containing customer data, transaction records, and configuration settings, the ability to manipulate these queries poses a severe risk. The attacker can leverage this flaw to perform blind extraction of sensitive information by observing how long the server takes to respond to specific payloads, effectively turning time delays into a channel for data theft.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant due to its unauthenticated nature and broad applicability across all affected versions. Unauthenticated attackers do not need valid credentials or prior access to exploit this flaw, making it highly accessible to automated scanning tools and opportunistic threat actors. Successful exploitation can lead to the extraction of sensitive data stored in the WordPress database, including user passwords, email addresses, payment information, and other personally identifiable information. Furthermore, depending on the specific SQL commands injected, an attacker might potentially escalate privileges or modify application behavior, although time-based injection is primarily associated with data exfiltration rather than direct system control. The widespread use of WooCommerce means that a successful exploit could impact numerous online stores simultaneously if they fail to update their plugins promptly.
To mitigate this risk, immediate action is required by site administrators and developers using the affected plugin versions. The primary remediation step is to upgrade the WooCommerce Lottery plugin to version 2.3.0 or later, where these input validation issues have been addressed through proper escaping techniques and the implementation of parameterized queries. Until an update can be applied, temporary mitigations include implementing Web Application Firewall rules that detect and block suspicious patterns in GET parameters associated with SQL injection attempts, such as common time-based payloads like SLEEP() or benchmark functions. Additionally, restricting access to plugin-specific endpoints via IP whitelisting for administrative interfaces can reduce the attack surface. Regular security audits and adherence to secure coding standards, particularly those outlined in CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command), are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced or persisting in web applications.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-89, which covers improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, a category that includes both blind and time-based injection techniques. In terms of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this exploit falls under T1059.004 (SQL Commands) within the Execution tactic, specifically leveraging database commands to achieve unauthorized data access. The lack of authentication required for exploitation places it in the Initial Access or Discovery phase depending on whether the attacker is actively probing for other vulnerabilities or directly extracting data. Organizations must treat this as a high-priority issue due to the direct impact on data confidentiality and integrity, ensuring that patch management processes are updated to prioritize fixes for widely deployed plugins with known remote code execution or database access risks.