CVE-2026-82186 in Cookie Consent Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2026
The WPLP Cookie Consent WordPress plugin before 4.4.2 does not properly validate a pagination parameter before using it in a SQL query, allowing users with administrator privileges to perform SQL injection attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2026
The vulnerability identified in the WPLP Cookie Consent WordPress plugin prior to version 4.4.2 represents a critical security flaw rooted in insufficient input validation within the application's pagination logic. Specifically, the software fails to adequately sanitize or validate the pagination parameter before incorporating it directly into Structured Query Language statements executed against the underlying database management system. This architectural oversight creates an avenue for SQL injection attacks, which are among the most dangerous vulnerabilities affecting web applications due to their potential to compromise data integrity and confidentiality. The flaw is particularly significant because it requires administrator privileges to exploit, indicating that while a lower barrier of entry exists for initial access through other means such as credential theft or session hijacking, the exploitation chain relies on an attacker having elevated permissions within the WordPress environment.
From a technical perspective, the absence of proper parameterization or escaping mechanisms allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL code into the query structure. By manipulating the pagination input, an authenticated administrator can alter the intended logic of the database query. This capability enables the extraction of sensitive data from other tables in the database that are not normally accessible through standard administrative interfaces. The impact extends beyond simple data exfiltration; depending on the specific configuration and capabilities granted to the database user account running the web application, an attacker could potentially modify existing records or even execute commands at the operating system level if the database software permits such operations. This aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration identifier CWE-89, which classifies improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands as a distinct category of injection vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for any organization relying on WordPress and specifically using outdated versions of the WPLP Cookie Consent plugin. Since the exploit requires administrator-level access, it often serves as an escalation vector or a method to deepen compromise after initial intrusion. Attackers can leverage SQL injection to dump user credentials, including hashed passwords that may be cracked offline, thereby facilitating further lateral movement within the network infrastructure. Additionally, sensitive personal data collected through cookie consent mechanisms could be exposed, leading to potential violations of privacy regulations such as GDPR or CCPA if customer information is compromised. The persistence of this vulnerability in older versions highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software ecosystems and applying security patches promptly upon release by vendors.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate remediation through version updates and enhanced defensive coding practices for developers. Administrators should upgrade to WPLP Cookie Consent version 4.4.2 or later, where this validation issue has been addressed. For environments where upgrading is not immediately feasible, implementing a Web Application Firewall can provide an additional layer of defense by detecting and blocking malicious SQL patterns in HTTP requests before they reach the application logic. Furthermore, developers should adhere to secure coding standards that mandate the use of prepared statements or parameterized queries for all database interactions involving user-supplied input. This approach ensures that data is treated strictly as data rather than executable code, effectively neutralizing injection attempts regardless of their complexity. Regular security audits and penetration testing can also help identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or custom code within the WordPress installation to ensure comprehensive protection against SQL injection threats.