CVE-2026-94122 in Responsive Slider Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2026
Editor PHP Object Injection in Responsive Slider Gallery <= 1.5.5 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-something (specifically affecting Responsive Slider Gallery versions up to and including 1.5.5) represents a critical server-side security flaw rooted in improper handling of user-supplied input within the PHP execution environment. This specific class of issue is categorized under CWE-94, commonly known as Improper Control of Generation of Code or PHP Script, often referred to colloquially as Remote Code Execution via deserialization or object injection. The core technical failure lies in the application's ability to accept external data that directly influences the instantiation of PHP objects without adequate sanitization or validation checks. In a typical WordPress plugin architecture like Responsive Slider Gallery, this flaw usually manifests when functions such as unserialize() are invoked on parameters derived from HTTP requests, including POST bodies, GET queries, or cookie values, allowing an attacker to manipulate the internal state of application objects.
From a technical perspective, PHP object injection exploits the way PHP handles serialization and deserialization processes. When user input is passed directly into these functions without strict type checking or allowlisting of expected classes, it enables the creation of arbitrary object instances with controlled properties. If the application utilizes magic methods such as __wakeup(), __destruct(), or __toString() within its class definitions, an attacker can trigger side effects during the deserialization process. These side effects might include executing system commands, reading sensitive files from the server filesystem, or performing unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require complex exploitation chains in many cases; a single crafted payload containing a serialized PHP object with malicious properties can be sufficient to achieve code execution if the target class and its methods are present within the application's scope or included libraries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, potentially leading to full compromise of the underlying web server hosting the WordPress instance. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this flaw to upload a backdoor script, exfiltrate database credentials stored in wp-config.php, or pivot further into the internal network if the server has broader connectivity than intended. This aligns with several techniques observed in real-world attacks as documented by MITRE ATT&CK, specifically T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for executing arbitrary commands via PHP functions like exec() or system(), and potentially T1078 Valid Accounts if combined with credential theft to maintain persistence. The ability to execute code remotely makes this a high-severity risk that can result in data breaches, defacement of the website, and significant reputational damage to the organization hosting the vulnerable application.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must prioritize immediate remediation through software updates or rigorous input validation if an update is not immediately available. The primary recommendation is to upgrade Responsive Slider Gallery to version 1.5.6 or later, where the developers have presumably implemented proper sanitization and validation mechanisms to prevent arbitrary object instantiation. For environments where upgrading is delayed, administrators should implement strict allowlisting of acceptable parameters before they are passed to any deserialization functions. Additionally, disabling unserialize() globally via php.ini settings can provide a layer of defense-in-depth, although this may break functionality for other plugins relying on it. Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) configured with rules targeting PHP serialization patterns and magic method invocations can also help detect and block exploitation attempts in transit while permanent fixes are deployed. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on input handling practices are essential to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced into the application ecosystem.