CVE-2026-73183 in Maps Marker Pro Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Unauthenticated SQL Injection in Maps Marker Pro <= 4.32 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The vulnerability identified as an unauthenticated SQL injection flaw within the Maps Marker Pro plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 4.32, represents a critical security deficiency that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary Structured Query Language commands against the underlying database without requiring valid credentials or prior authentication. This specific type of weakness falls squarely under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which classifies improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, commonly known as SQL Injection. The root cause typically stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization processes within the plugin's codebase, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into database queries without adequate escaping or parameterized query preparation mechanisms. In many WordPress environments, this flaw can be exploited by any internet-facing visitor who interacts with specific endpoints exposed by the Maps Marker Pro functionality, such as map rendering scripts or AJAX handlers that process location-based parameters.
From an operational perspective, the impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. An attacker leveraging this SQL injection vector can bypass access controls to extract sensitive data stored in the WordPress database, including administrator usernames and password hashes which are often susceptible to offline cracking attacks if not properly salted or hashed using modern algorithms like bcrypt. Beyond credential theft, successful exploitation allows for the modification of existing records within the application's database, potentially altering map configurations, user permissions, or plugin settings to maintain persistence or disrupt service availability. In more advanced attack scenarios involving specific database engine features such as MySQL's INTO OUTFILE command, an attacker might write malicious PHP code directly onto the web server's file system, leading to remote code execution and complete compromise of the hosting environment. This aligns with several tactics in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for enterprise security, specifically Initial Access techniques involving exploitation of application vulnerabilities and Credential Access methods focused on database credential harvesting.
The presence of such a vulnerability significantly undermines the integrity and confidentiality guarantees expected from web applications built on WordPress platforms. Since Maps Marker Pro is designed to display interactive maps often containing geospatial data that may be considered sensitive depending on the organization's context, any unauthorized access or manipulation poses both technical and potential regulatory compliance risks. The unauthenticated nature of this flaw means there is no barrier preventing automated scanning tools from discovering and exploiting the vulnerability across thousands of installations simultaneously, leading to widespread compromise if left unpatched. Attackers frequently utilize large-scale botnets to probe for such weaknesses in real-time, making rapid remediation essential to prevent data breaches that could result in financial loss, reputational damage, and legal liabilities under regulations like GDPR or CCPA depending on the jurisdiction and nature of the affected data.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching as the primary defense mechanism. Administrators running versions 4.32 or earlier should upgrade to the latest stable release of Maps Marker Pro where this input validation issue has been resolved by implementing proper prepared statements using WordPress's $wpdb class methods such as prepare, which ensures that user inputs are correctly escaped and treated strictly as data rather than executable code. In scenarios where immediate patching is not feasible due to compatibility constraints or deployment delays, temporary mitigations should be implemented at the web server level or through a Web Application Firewall. These measures can include strict input filtering rules that block common SQL injection payloads such as UNION SELECT statements, OR 1=1 tautologies, and other syntactic patterns associated with database exploitation attempts. Additionally, enforcing principle of least privilege for the database user account used by WordPress ensures that even if an injection is successful, the attacker's ability to perform destructive actions like dropping tables or modifying system configurations is restricted, thereby limiting the blast radius of a potential breach. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on data handling practices are also recommended to prevent recurrence of similar weaknesses in future plugin updates or custom integrations.