CVE-2026-42415 in Porto Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2026
Unauthenticated SQL Injection in Porto Theme - Functionality <= 3.9.3 versions.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2026
The vulnerability identified within the Porto theme for WordPress, specifically affecting functionality modules up to version 3.9.3, represents a critical unauthenticated SQL injection flaw that compromises the integrity and confidentiality of the underlying database infrastructure. This security defect arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms when processing user-supplied data in specific administrative or public-facing endpoints exposed by the theme's extended functionality plugins. An attacker can exploit this weakness without requiring valid credentials, allowing them to inject arbitrary Structured Query Language commands directly into backend database queries that are executed with elevated privileges associated with the web application process.
From a technical perspective, the root cause lies in the improper handling of parameters passed through HTTP requests, such as GET or POST variables, which are concatenated directly into SQL statements without adequate escaping or parameterization. This lack of prepared statement usage enables malicious actors to manipulate the logic of database queries, potentially bypassing authentication controls or extracting sensitive information stored within the WordPress database tables. The vulnerability aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-89, which classifies improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, thereby facilitating unauthorized data access and potential remote code execution depending on the specific configuration and capabilities enabled on the target server.
The operational impact of this unauthenticated vector is severe, as it allows for complete database compromise without any prior authentication barrier. Attackers can leverage tools like sqlmap to automate the exploitation process, extracting usernames, hashed passwords, session tokens, and other sensitive administrative data from the wp_users table or custom post metadata. Furthermore, depending on the MySQL server configuration, specifically if the secure_file_priv setting is permissive, an attacker might write malicious files to the web root, leading to full site takeover via a backdoor shell. This scenario corresponds closely with MITRE ATT&CK techniques such as T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for executing injected commands and T1213 Data from Information Repositories for exfiltrating stored data, highlighting the breadth of potential malicious activities enabled by this single flaw.
To mitigate this vulnerability immediately, administrators must upgrade the Porto theme functionality to version 3.9.4 or later where these input validation issues have been addressed through proper sanitization and prepared statement implementation. In addition to updating software components, it is advisable to implement a Web Application Firewall that can detect and block common SQL injection patterns in HTTP traffic. Regular security audits using static application security testing tools should be conducted to identify similar coding practices across the theme's codebase, ensuring that all database interactions utilize parameterized queries exclusively. Maintaining strict adherence to secure coding standards will significantly reduce the attack surface and protect against future exploitation attempts targeting this class of vulnerabilities.