CVE-2026-94174 in Email Log Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/23/2026
Administrator SQL Injection in Email Log <= 2.63 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as an administrator-level SQL injection within the Email Log plugin for WordPress prior to version 2.64 represents a critical security flaw that allows authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary Structured Query Language commands against the underlying database. This specific classification highlights that while the attacker must possess valid credentials, often obtained through credential stuffing or phishing attacks targeting high-privilege accounts, the impact of exploiting this vulnerability is severe due to the elevated access level granted by such roles in a typical WordPress installation. The flaw resides within the input handling mechanisms of the Email Log plugin, specifically when processing user-supplied data that is subsequently incorporated into database queries without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This lack of proper validation allows an attacker to manipulate the structure of SQL statements, bypassing intended logic and accessing restricted data or modifying system configurations directly through the database interface.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which defines Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, commonly known as SQL Injection. The root cause typically involves the concatenation of user input into query strings rather than using prepared statements or parameterized queries that separate code from data. In the context of WordPress plugins, this often occurs when retrieving log entries or filtering email records based on parameters passed via GET or POST requests. Because the Email Log plugin deals with sensitive communication metadata, including sender and recipient addresses, subjects, and potentially body content depending on configuration, an attacker can leverage SQL injection techniques such as UNION-based attacks to extract data from other tables within the database schema. This could lead to the exposure of user passwords stored in hashed form, API keys, or other critical site configurations that are not directly accessible through standard administrative interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exfiltration. An attacker with SQL injection capabilities can potentially achieve remote code execution by writing malicious files to the server's file system if certain database permissions allow it, such as FILE privilege in MySQL/MariaDB environments. This could result in full compromise of the web application and underlying infrastructure. Furthermore, attackers may modify existing records within the Email Log table itself, leading to data integrity issues where audit trails are altered or deleted to cover tracks of malicious activity. The presence of this vulnerability also indicates a broader pattern of insecure coding practices that might exist elsewhere in the plugin or associated themes, increasing the overall attack surface for potential intruders who have managed to gain administrative access through other means.
In terms of threat modeling and adversary behavior, this scenario maps closely to techniques found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter via SQL commands or T1078 Valid Accounts if the initial compromise involved stolen credentials. The exploitation path often begins with reconnaissance where the attacker identifies the presence of vulnerable plugins using fingerprinting tools before crafting specific payloads to exploit the injection point. Defenders should recognize that even authenticated vulnerabilities pose significant risks because many organizations rely on weak password policies or fail to enforce multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, making credential theft a frequent precursor to such exploits.
To mitigate this risk and prevent further exploitation, immediate action is required by upgrading the Email Log plugin to version 2.64 or later where these input validation issues have been addressed through code patches that implement proper parameterization of database queries. Organizations should also conduct a thorough review of all installed plugins for similar vulnerabilities, ensuring that developers follow secure coding standards such as those outlined in OWASP guidelines for SQL injection prevention. Implementing Web Application Firewalls can provide an additional layer of defense by detecting and blocking common SQL injection patterns in HTTP requests, although this is not a substitute for patching the underlying code vulnerability. Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on authenticated user interactions are recommended to identify and remediate similar flaws before they can be leveraged by malicious actors seeking to escalate privileges or exfiltrate sensitive data from WordPress environments.