CVE-2026-3018 Scanner

The WordPress Newsletters plugin is a tool commonly used by website administrators to manage newsletters and subscription lists. It offers features such as automatic newsletter delivery, detailed user statistics, and multiple mailing list support. Its flexibility and user-friendly design make it a popular choice for small to medium-sized businesses looking to manage their customer communications effectively. The plugin integrates seamlessly with WordPress, allowing users to harness the powerful blogging and content management features of the platform. It is often employed by marketers and bloggers for its ability to enhance communication through email newsletters. The plugin's functionality extends to providing users with the capability to customize their newsletters and analyze the effectiveness of their campaigns.

The vulnerability present in the WordPress Newsletters plugin relates to an SQL Injection (SQLi) flaw. SQL Injection vulnerabilities allow attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code. In this case, the injection is possible due to insufficient escaping of user inputs, specifically within the wpmlsubscriber_id' parameter. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the database, leading to data extraction and potential data manipulation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited without authentication, making it accessible to any attacker with internet access. The severity of this vulnerability is classified as high, given its potential to expose sensitive information.

Technical details regarding this vulnerability indicate that the susceptible endpoint involves the 'method=unsubscribe' functionality of the plugin. The vulnerable parameter is 'wpmlsubscriber_id', which when manipulated, permits the execution of SQL queries. The attack leverages a time-based blind SQL injection technique, allowing attackers to infer information from the database based on time delays. This method can efficiently extract sensitive information such as user credentials or other confidential data stored within the WordPress database. The exploitation of this vulnerability does not require user interaction, nor does it require access privileges beyond accessing the vulnerable URL.

Exploitation of this SQL Injection vulnerability can lead to severe security implications. Successful exploitation may allow attackers to access and extract confidential data such as user emails, subscription details, and possibly passwords if improperly stored. Beyond data theft, attackers could manipulate the database, adding or deleting information as they see fit. This could disrupt the normal functionality of the WordPress site, potentially causing downtime or loss of data integrity. In extreme cases, attackers might use this vulnerability as a foothold to gain further access to the server and escalate their privileges, leading to a complete server compromise.

REFERENCES

• https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-plugins/newsletters-lite/newsletters-413-unauthenticated-sql-injection
• https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3566485/newsletters-lite