CVE-2026-73185 in NGG Smart Image Search Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2026
Unauthenticated SQL Injection in NGG Smart Image Search < 4.0.0 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2026
The vulnerability identified as an unauthenticated SQL injection within the NGG Smart Image Search plugin, specifically affecting versions prior to 4.0.0, represents a critical security flaw that compromises the integrity and confidentiality of data stored in the associated database. This type of attack vector allows malicious actors to interfere with the queries that an application makes to its database, potentially granting them unauthorized access to sensitive information such as user credentials, personal identifiable information, or proprietary business data. The root cause lies in the insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input within the smart image search functionality. When a request is processed by the plugin, specific parameters are passed directly into SQL statements without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. This oversight enables an attacker to inject malicious SQL code that alters the logic of the original query, effectively bypassing authentication controls and executing arbitrary commands on the backend database server.
From a technical perspective, this flaw aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) category CWE-89, which describes Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, commonly known as SQL Injection. The absence of input validation means that special characters such as single quotes, semicolons, and comment sequences are not properly handled by the application logic before being concatenated into database queries. Consequently, an attacker can manipulate these inputs to extract data from other tables within the same database schema, modify existing records, or even drop critical tables depending on the privileges granted to the database user account running the web application. The unauthenticated nature of this vulnerability significantly lowers the barrier for exploitation, as no valid login credentials are required to initiate an attack sequence, making it accessible to a wide range of threat actors including automated bots and script kiddies scanning public-facing websites.
The operational impact of exploiting this SQL injection can be severe, ranging from complete data exfiltration to full system compromise in certain configurations where the database user has elevated privileges such as FILE or EXECUTE permissions. Attackers may use tools like sqlmap to automate the extraction of sensitive information, including administrative usernames and hashed passwords stored within the WordPress users table. Once these credentials are obtained, they can be cracked offline using rainbow tables or brute-force techniques, leading to unauthorized access to the entire website administration panel. Furthermore, if the database server is configured with network accessibility that allows remote connections, an attacker might leverage advanced SQL injection techniques such as out-of-band data exfiltration or command execution via functions like xp_cmdshell on Microsoft SQL Server or sys_exec on MySQL, thereby gaining a foothold within the underlying operating system and potentially pivoting to other systems in the internal network.
To mitigate this vulnerability, immediate action is required by upgrading the NGG Smart Image Search plugin to version 4.0.0 or later, where these input validation issues have been addressed through proper parameterized queries or prepared statements that separate SQL logic from data inputs. In scenarios where an upgrade cannot be performed immediately due to compatibility constraints with other plugins or custom code modifications, administrators should implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) rule set designed to detect and block common SQL injection patterns in the request parameters associated with the image search functionality. Additionally, enforcing strict input validation on all user-supplied data at the application level is essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising elsewhere in the plugin or related modules. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on database interaction layers are recommended practices to ensure ongoing resilience against such injection attacks.
This vulnerability also maps to specific tactics within the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly T1059 Command Line Interface for executing system commands if command execution is achieved through SQL injection, or more broadly under T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application which covers the initial access phase of an attack lifecycle. By recognizing this vulnerability in the context of these industry standards, security teams can better prioritize remediation efforts and enhance their monitoring capabilities to detect attempts at exploitation. It is crucial for organizations relying on WordPress ecosystems with third-party plugins to maintain strict version control policies and apply patches promptly upon release to minimize the window of exposure to known exploits that are widely documented in public vulnerability databases.