CVE-2026-59525 in Participants Database Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2026
Unauthenticated SQL Injection in Participants Database <= 2.7.8.3 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Participants Database plugin for wordpress systems affecting versions up to and including 2.7.8.3. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the plugin's database query execution logic, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql commands without requiring authentication credentials. The vulnerability manifests when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into sql queries without proper escaping or parameterization mechanisms, creating an environment where attackers can manipulate database operations through crafted input parameters.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the plugin's handling of participant data submission forms and administrative interfaces where user inputs are processed and subsequently used in direct sql query construction. When an attacker submits maliciously crafted data containing sql injection payloads, the vulnerable code fails to properly sanitize these inputs before incorporating them into database operations. This allows for unauthorized data extraction, modification, or deletion from the underlying database system. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including form submissions, api endpoints, or direct parameter manipulation within the plugin's administrative interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to encompass complete system infiltration and potential lateral movement within affected networks. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive participant information including personal identification details, contact information, and potentially authentication credentials stored within the database. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that any external party with knowledge of the vulnerable plugin installation can immediately begin exploiting the system without requiring legitimate user credentials or privileged access. This creates a significant risk for organizations relying on the plugin for participant management, as the vulnerability can be exploited from any internet-facing system.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through plugin version updates to address this vulnerability, as the affected versions contain no known workarounds or patches that would mitigate the issue without complete software replacement. The vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws in software applications and maps to attack techniques documented in the attack tree framework under the category of database exploitation. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual database query patterns or unauthorized access attempts, while also ensuring that all wordpress installations are regularly updated with security patches from official sources.
The broader implications for organizations using wordpress-based participant management systems highlight the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust input validation across all user-facing interfaces. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor security flaws in third-party plugins can create significant exposure points within larger organizational infrastructures, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security assessments of all installed software components and regular vulnerability scanning procedures to identify similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.