CVE-2026-97287 in Event Tickets Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/30/2026
Contributor SQL Injection in Event Tickets <= 5.29.5 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2026
The vulnerability identified as Contributor SQL Injection in the Event Tickets plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 5.29.5, represents a critical security flaw within the application's access control mechanisms. This specific weakness arises from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input when processing requests related to contributor roles or ticketing data associated with those contributors. The core technical issue lies in the failure to properly validate and escape database queries before execution, allowing an attacker to inject malicious Structured Query Language code into the backend database management system. This type of flaw is classically categorized under CWE-89, which defines Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, commonly known as SQL Injection. The vulnerability specifically targets functionality that handles contributor-level permissions or data retrieval, indicating a lapse in input validation for roles that typically have elevated but restricted access compared to administrative users.
From an operational perspective, the exploitation of this vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with lower-privilege accounts, such as contributors, to bypass intended restrictions and interact directly with the underlying database. By crafting specific HTTP requests containing malicious SQL payloads, an attacker can manipulate query logic to extract sensitive information stored in the WordPress database. This includes user credentials, personal data associated with ticket holders, payment transaction details, and potentially administrative configuration settings that should remain inaccessible to non-administrative users. The impact extends beyond simple data exfiltration; depending on the specific payload utilized and the database engine version, an attacker might achieve remote code execution or escalate privileges by manipulating system tables or leveraging stored procedures within the database environment. This compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the entire web application ecosystem hosted on the affected server.
The attack vector for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically sub-techniques related to command scripting or SQL injection depending on the exact exploitation method used within the broader context of Application Layer Attacks. It falls under MITRE ATT&CK ID TA0001 (Initial Access) if it leads to further compromise, but more accurately maps to TA0005 (Defense Evasion) and TA0007 (Discovery) as the attacker probes for sensitive data without triggering immediate alarms due to its origin from a seemingly legitimate user role. The presence of such vulnerabilities in widely used plugins like Event Tickets highlights the risks associated with third-party code integration, where rigorous security auditing may be lacking compared to core WordPress software updates. Attackers often automate searches for these specific version numbers and plugin combinations using public vulnerability databases, making timely patching essential for defense-in-depth strategies.
Mitigation requires immediate action by site administrators to upgrade the Event Tickets plugin to a version newer than 5.29.5 where this input validation flaw has been corrected by the developers. In addition to updating software, organizations should implement Web Application Firewalls configured with rulesets capable of detecting and blocking SQL injection patterns in POST or GET parameters associated with contributor-related endpoints. Database access controls should be reviewed to ensure that application accounts operate under the principle of least privilege, limiting permissions even if an injection occurs. Regular security audits and static code analysis tools focused on identifying CWE-89 instances during development phases are recommended to prevent recurrence. Monitoring server logs for anomalous database query patterns can also aid in early detection of exploitation attempts before significant data loss or system compromise occurs.