CVE-2026-15445
Received Received - Intake

Time-Based SQL Injection in SEO Booster WordPress Plugin

Publication date: 2026-07-16

Last updated on: 2026-07-16

Assigner: Wordfence

Description
The SEO Booster plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via the 'orderby' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 7.3.1 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access and above, to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database. Although esc_sql() and sanitize_text_field() are applied, neither neutralizes SQL keywords, commas, parentheses, or subquery syntax in an unquoted ORDER BY context, leaving the clause fully attacker-controlled.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-07-16
Last Modified
2026-07-16
Generated
2026-07-16
AI Q&A
2026-07-16
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-15445
EUVD
EUVD-2026-44864

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
seo_booster seo_booster to 7.3.1 (inc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-89 The product constructs all or part of an SQL command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended SQL command when it is sent to a downstream component. Without sufficient removal or quoting of SQL syntax in user-controllable inputs, the generated SQL query can cause those inputs to be interpreted as SQL instead of ordinary user data.

Attack-Flow Graph

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Executive Summary

The SEO Booster plugin for WordPress has a SQL injection vulnerability in the 'orderby' parameter. This flaw allows authenticated attackers with admin access to inject malicious SQL queries into existing ones, potentially extracting sensitive database information. The issue occurs because user input isn't properly escaped and SQL keywords aren't neutralized in the ORDER BY clause.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could exploit this to steal sensitive data from your WordPress database, such as user credentials, personal information, or other confidential data. Since it requires admin access, the primary risk is data exposure rather than full site takeover.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could lead to unauthorized data access, violating GDPR's data protection requirements or HIPAA's safeguards for protected health information. Organizations may face compliance violations, fines, or legal consequences if sensitive data is exposed through this flaw.

Detection Guidance

To detect this vulnerability, inspect WordPress sites using the SEO Booster plugin versions up to 7.3.1. Check for unusual SQL query patterns or database access logs. Use tools like WP-CLI to query plugin versions: wp plugin list | grep seo-booster. Monitor for suspicious admin-level activity or unexpected database queries.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update the SEO Booster plugin to the latest version. If no update is available, disable or remove the plugin. Ensure all WordPress admin accounts use strong passwords and limit administrator-level access. Review database logs for signs of exploitation and consider implementing a web application firewall.

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