Blind SQL Injection in Themeum Kirki

Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a Blind SQL Injection flaw found in the WordPress Kirki Plugin versions 6.0.12 and earlier. It allows attackers to inject malicious SQL commands into the website's database queries without needing authentication.

Because of this, attackers can interact directly with the database, potentially extracting sensitive information or manipulating data.

The vulnerability is classified under OWASP Top 10 A3: Injection and has a critical severity score of 9.3.

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Detection Guidance

Detecting this SQL Injection vulnerability in the Kirki plugin on your network or system involves checking for signs of exploitation or verifying the plugin version. Below are some methods and commands to help identify the issue.

• Check the installed version of the Kirki plugin. If it is 6.0.12 or earlier, the system is vulnerable. You can verify the version by navigating to the WordPress admin dashboard, going to 'Plugins', and locating the Kirki plugin.
• Review web server logs for suspicious SQL-related queries or unusual database access patterns. Look for HTTP requests containing SQL keywords like 'SELECT', 'UNION', 'INSERT', or 'DROP' in the query parameters or payloads. Example command to search logs for SQL keywords:
• grep -i -E 'SELECT|UNION|INSERT|DROP|EXEC|DECLARE' /var/log/apache2/access.log
• For NGINX logs, use a similar command:
• grep -i -E 'SELECT|UNION|INSERT|DROP|EXEC|DECLARE' /var/log/nginx/access.log
• Use a web application firewall (WAF) or intrusion detection system (IDS) to monitor for SQL Injection attack patterns. Tools like ModSecurity with the OWASP Core Rule Set can help detect and block such attacks.
• Scan your WordPress installation using a vulnerability scanner like WPScan to identify outdated or vulnerable plugins. Example command:
• wpscan --url yourwebsite.com --enumerate vp
• Apply the mitigation rule provided by Patchstack if you cannot immediately update the plugin. This rule can help block exploitation attempts until the plugin is updated.

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can have severe impacts including unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in the website's database.

Attackers could steal confidential information, which may lead to data breaches.

It also poses a risk of data manipulation or disruption of website functionality.

Since the vulnerability is exploitable without authentication and is expected to be targeted in mass-exploit campaigns, it can affect thousands of websites regardless of their size or popularity.

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Compliance Impact

This SQL Injection vulnerability in the Kirki plugin can significantly impact compliance with standards and regulations like GDPR and HIPAA due to its potential to expose sensitive data.

• GDPR: The vulnerability allows attackers to steal sensitive information from the database, which may include personally identifiable information (PII) of users. Under GDPR, organizations must protect PII from unauthorized access. A breach resulting from this vulnerability could lead to non-compliance, triggering hefty fines (up to 4% of global revenue or €20 million, whichever is higher) and mandatory breach notifications to affected individuals and authorities.
• HIPAA: For organizations handling protected health information (PHI), this vulnerability poses a severe risk. If the database contains PHI, unauthorized access via SQL Injection could violate HIPAA's Security Rule, which mandates safeguards for electronic PHI. Non-compliance may result in penalties ranging from $100 to $50,000 per violation, with a maximum annual penalty of $1.5 million.
• General compliance risks: The vulnerability is classified under OWASP Top 10 A3: Injection, which is a well-known security risk. Failure to address such critical vulnerabilities may indicate inadequate security practices, potentially violating requirements in standards like ISO 27001, PCI DSS, or industry-specific regulations.

Organizations using the affected plugin must act immediately to mitigate the risk, as exploitation could lead to data breaches and subsequent regulatory violations.

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Mitigation Strategies

The immediate steps to mitigate the CVE-2026-57726 vulnerability are to update the WordPress Kirki Plugin to version 6.0.13 or later.

If updating is not immediately possible, apply the mitigation rule provided by Patchstack to block attacks targeting this SQL Injection vulnerability.

Users who cannot update the plugin themselves are advised to seek assistance from their hosting provider or web developer.

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