CVE-2026-39732 in Transliterator Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/30/2026
Unauthenticated SQL Injection in Transliterator <= 2.5.13 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as an unauthenticated SQL injection flaw within the Transliterator application, specifically affecting versions up to and including 2.5.13, represents a critical security deficiency that compromises the integrity of the underlying database system. This type of vulnerability arises when an application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamic SQL queries executed against a backend database management system. In this specific instance, the lack of authentication required for exploitation means that any remote actor with network access to the service can initiate attacks without needing valid credentials, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for malicious actors and increasing the likelihood of successful compromise.
From a technical perspective, the root cause lies in the improper handling of input parameters within the application logic. When users interact with specific features of Transliterator, such as search functions or data submission forms, the application constructs SQL statements by directly concatenating user inputs into query strings rather than using parameterized queries or prepared statements. This allows an attacker to inject malicious SQL code that alters the intended execution flow of the database commands. By manipulating these input fields, an adversary can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data from tables they should not have access to, modify existing records, or even execute administrative operations on the database server depending on the privileges assigned to the application's database user account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. The most immediate consequence is the potential for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information stored in the database, which may include personal identifiable information, proprietary business data, or system configuration details. Beyond data exfiltration, an attacker could utilize advanced SQL injection techniques to write files to the server's file system if specific database permissions are misconfigured, potentially leading to remote code execution. Furthermore, destructive actions such as dropping tables or deleting critical records can result in complete service disruption and significant financial and reputational damage for the organization hosting the application. The absence of authentication requirements amplifies this risk by exposing these capabilities directly to the public internet or any connected network segment without prior verification of identity.
This vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-89, which classifies improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, commonly known as SQL Injection. Additionally, from a tactical standpoint within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this flaw facilitates techniques associated with Initial Access and Collection phases, specifically allowing attackers to leverage database credentials or directly query data stores for sensitive information. The lack of authentication also relates to CWE-306, which describes the missing authentication for critical function, although in this context it primarily serves as an enabler for the SQL injection attack vector rather than a standalone access control failure.
To mitigate this vulnerability and secure the Transliterator application against similar threats, immediate remediation is required by upgrading to version 2.5.14 or later where these issues have been addressed. In addition to patching, developers should implement strict input validation strategies that enforce whitelisting of expected characters for all user inputs rather than relying on blacklisting known malicious patterns. The use of parameterized queries or prepared statements is essential to ensure that data sent from the client side is treated strictly as data and never as executable code by the database engine. Furthermore, implementing a Web Application Firewall can provide an additional layer of defense by detecting and blocking common SQL injection payloads before they reach the application logic. Regular security audits and static analysis tools should be integrated into the development lifecycle to identify such coding flaws early in the software production process.