CVE-2026-40800 in ELEX Advanced Bulk Edit Products, Prices & Attributes Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/10/2026
Subscriber SQL Injection in ELEX WooCommerce Advanced Bulk Edit Products, Prices & Attributes <= 1.5.3 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/10/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-XXXX involves a critical SQL injection flaw within the ELEX WooCommerce Advanced Bulk Edit plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions up to and including 1.5.3. This security issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms when processing user-supplied data related to subscriber information or bulk product attributes. The core technical failure lies in the direct concatenation of unsanitized variables into SQL query strings without proper escaping using prepared statements or parameterized queries, a fundamental deviation from secure coding practices mandated by modern web application security standards. This architectural weakness allows an attacker to manipulate backend database operations through maliciously crafted HTTP requests targeting specific plugin endpoints that handle bulk editing functionalities.
From the perspective of industry classification frameworks, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, commonly known as SQL Injection. The flaw enables unauthorized access to the WordPress database where sensitive customer data, order histories, and product inventory details are stored. By exploiting this weakness, a remote attacker can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying MySQL or MariaDB instance hosting the website. This capability extends beyond simple data exfiltration; it allows for potential modification of existing records, deletion of critical tables, and in certain configurations with elevated privileges on the database server, execution of operating system-level commands via specific database features such as LOAD_FILE or INTO OUTFILE directives.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its classification as a remote code execution vector that does not require authentication for exploitation if the targeted endpoint allows unauthenticated access, which is often the case with bulk edit interfaces exposed during administrative workflows or through misconfigured permissions. An attacker can leverage tools like sqlmap to automate the extraction of database schema information, retrieve administrator credentials stored in plaintext or weakly hashed formats within the wp_users table, and potentially gain full control over the web server environment if combined with other vulnerabilities such as file upload flaws. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this activity under T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter for automated exploitation phases and T1005: Data from Local System for data staging prior to exfiltration, highlighting the systematic nature of attacks exploiting SQL injection weaknesses in web applications.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching by upgrading the ELEX WooCommerce Advanced Bulk Edit plugin to version 1.5.4 or later where these input validation checks have been implemented correctly using WordPress database abstraction layers like $wpdb->prepare(). In scenarios where updating is not immediately feasible, temporary mitigations include implementing Web Application Firewall rules that detect and block common SQL injection patterns in POST parameters associated with bulk edit operations. Additionally, enforcing strict role-based access control to ensure only authenticated administrators can access these endpoints reduces the attack surface significantly. Regular security audits focusing on database interaction code paths are essential to prevent recurrence of such CWE-89 vulnerabilities across all integrated plugins within the WordPress ecosystem.