CVE-2026-95522 in Easy Digital Downloads Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/23/2026
Shop manager SQL Injection in Easy Digital Downloads <= 3.7.0 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as an SQL injection flaw within the Shop Manager functionality of Easy Digital Downloads, specifically affecting versions up to and including 3.7.0, represents a critical security deficiency that allows unauthorized database manipulation through maliciously crafted input parameters. This plugin is widely utilized for managing digital product sales on WordPress sites, handling sensitive customer data, transaction records, and download logs. The core technical flaw stems from the improper sanitization of user-supplied input before it is incorporated into SQL query structures executed by the application backend. When a shop manager interacts with specific administrative interfaces or API endpoints that process search queries, filter options, or export functions, the system fails to adequately validate or escape these inputs using prepared statements or robust escaping mechanisms compliant with modern database interaction standards.
This lack of input validation enables an attacker to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the query context. By manipulating parameters such as those used for filtering products by category, status, or date range, a malicious actor can alter the logic of the underlying database queries. This capability allows for both blind and error-based extraction techniques where the attacker can infer data based on application responses or time delays introduced via conditional statements within the injected payload. The vulnerability is particularly severe because it resides in an area typically accessible to users with elevated privileges, such as shop managers, which may lead some administrators to underestimate its risk profile compared to public-facing vulnerabilities. However, even authenticated access at this level poses a significant threat due to the potential for data exfiltration and system compromise.
The operational impact of exploiting this SQL injection vulnerability is substantial and multifaceted. An attacker can extract sensitive information stored in the WordPress database, including customer email addresses, payment details if not properly masked or tokenized by third-party gateways, download history, and potentially administrative credentials hashed within the user tables. Beyond data theft, successful exploitation could allow for privilege escalation to full administrator access if specific table structures are targeted correctly, leading to complete control over the WordPress installation. This can result in defacement, malware injection into site files, or using the compromised server as a pivot point for further attacks against internal networks hosting the application. The integrity of business operations is also at risk, as attackers could modify product listings, delete sales records, or disrupt service availability by corrupting database entries.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, commonly known as SQL Injection. It falls under the broader category of injection attacks where untrusted data is sent to an interpreter as part of a command or query. In terms of offensive security frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK, this vulnerability facilitates techniques related to Data from Information Repositories (T1005) and potentially Privilege Escalation if combined with other misconfigurations. The attack vector typically involves authenticated access through the web application interface rather than remote code execution on the server itself, highlighting the importance of role-based access control validation alongside input sanitization practices.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate patching to version 3.7.1 or later where this issue has been addressed by the developers through enhanced input validation and parameterized query implementation. Administrators should verify their current plugin versions via the WordPress dashboard update section and apply updates promptly upon release. In environments where immediate updating is not feasible due to compatibility concerns with other plugins, temporary mitigation involves restricting access to the Shop Manager role to trusted individuals only and implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) configured with rules specifically designed to detect SQL injection patterns in POST and GET requests targeting Easy Digital Downloads endpoints. Additionally, auditing database logs for anomalous query structures can help identify ongoing exploitation attempts. Long-term resilience requires adopting secure coding practices that enforce strict type checking and the use of object-relational mapping tools or prepared statements exclusively when interacting with databases within WordPress plugin development ecosystems.