CVE-2026-74851 in Pods Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/26/2026
The Pods WordPress plugin before 3.3.9.1 does not correctly compare a display callback against its list of blocked functions, allowing users with the author role and above to execute arbitrary code on the server. Only sites using the restricted display-callback mode are affected, which is the automatic default on installations whose first Pods version predates 3.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Pods WordPress plugin prior to version 3.3.9.1 represents a critical security flaw rooted in improper input validation and logic errors within the framework's display callback mechanism. This issue specifically affects installations that utilize the restricted display-callback mode, which serves as an automatic default for sites where the initial installation of Pods occurred before version 3.1. In this specific operational context, the plugin is designed to restrict certain functions from being executed during rendering processes to prevent potential security risks. However, due to a flawed comparison logic, the system fails to correctly identify and block designated dangerous functions when they are invoked through display callbacks. This failure in validation allows an attacker who has achieved authentication as a user with at least author-level privileges to bypass these restrictions effectively.
From a technical perspective, this flaw is classified under CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code or Script, commonly known as code injection. The root cause lies in the application's inability to properly sanitize or validate the function names passed through the display callback interface against its internal blacklist of blocked functions. Instead of performing a strict equality check or using robust pattern matching that accounts for variations in input formatting, the plugin employs a comparison method that can be circumvented by specific crafting of the request payload. This allows an authenticated attacker to inject arbitrary PHP code into the execution context of the WordPress environment. Because the vulnerability relies on authentication, it is not directly exploitable via unauthenticated remote attacks but remains highly dangerous given that author-level access is relatively easy to obtain through social engineering or credential theft.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as successful exploitation leads to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the web server process running WordPress. An attacker can leverage this capability to read sensitive configuration files such as wp-config.php containing database credentials and secret keys, modify site content, install malicious plugins or themes for persistent access, or pivot further into other systems within the network infrastructure. This aligns closely with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically PHP execution, which describes how adversaries use scripting languages to execute commands on compromised hosts. The ability to execute arbitrary code effectively grants full control over the web application instance, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the hosted data and services.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate remediation through software updates. Administrators running affected versions should upgrade Pods WordPress plugin to version 3.3.9.1 or later as soon as possible, ensuring that the vendor's fix for the comparison logic is applied. For environments where upgrading is not immediately feasible due to compatibility constraints with other plugins or custom code, temporary mitigations include restricting user roles capable of accessing the affected display callback features. Implementing strict role-based access control policies can limit exposure by reducing the number of users who hold author-level permissions or higher. Additionally, deploying a Web Application Firewall may help detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability by identifying anomalous patterns in HTTP requests associated with code injection attempts, although such controls should be viewed as supplementary rather than primary defenses. Regular security audits and monitoring for unusual server activity are also recommended to ensure early detection of any exploitation attempts.