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Readabler CVE-2026-74015

| EUVDEUVD-2026-60819 CRITICAL
SQL Injection (CWE-89)
2026-08-18 Patchstack GHSA-fv7m-82qw-8434
9.3
CVSS 3.1 · Vendor: Patchstack
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Identify site running Readabler < 2.0.18
  2. Delivery
    Send crafted request with SQL payload
  3. Exploit
    Injection executes in $wpdb query
  4. Execution
    Extract database records
  5. Impact
    Exfiltrate sensitive site data

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Parameterized queries, prepared statements
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Initial Access, Persistence

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Exploitation Conditions

The target must run the Readabler WordPress plugin at a version earlier than 2.0.18 with the plugin active and its vulnerable endpoint reachable over the network. Per the CVSS vector (PR:N/UI:N/AC:L), no authentication, no user interaction, and no special client-side conditions are required - exploitation works against default installations. The practical limiting factors are simply that the site must have this specific plugin installed and unpatched, and that the WordPress instance/endpoint is internet-reachable; there is no privilege, platform, or non-default-configuration barrier indicated in the data.

Impact

The CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L) describes a high-severity, low-complexity, unauthenticated network attack with a confidentiality-focused impact and a scope change, which is consistent with SQL injection that can read data across the application boundary. However, the strong signals largely come from CVSS alone: there is no EPSS score, no KEV listing, and no POC in the provided data, so exploitation is theoretically easy but not confirmed to be occurring. The main mitigating factor for real-world prioritization is the product's moderate deployment footprint rather than any technical barrier - unauthenticated SQLi in default configurations should be treated as an urgent patch regardless of the missing EPSS/KEV signals. Note the impact metrics are somewhat unusual (I:N with A:L), suggesting a read-oriented injection rather than full data modification; verify actual write capability with the vendor advisory.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

An unauthenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request containing malicious SQL to a Readabler plugin endpoint on a target WordPress site running a version below 2.0.18. Because no authentication or user interaction is required, the attacker can automate scanning across many sites to extract sensitive database contents such as user records or password hashes. No public POC is identified at time of analysis, but the low attack complexity makes exploitation straightforward once the vulnerable endpoint is identified.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
Patch available 0.3% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Aug 18, 2026

SQL injection in the Readabler WordPress accessibility plugin (by Merkulove) before version 2.0.18 lets unauthenticated remote attackers inject arbitrary SQL against the site database. The CVSS 3.1 score is 9.3 with a scope change, reflecting that a low-privilege network request can reach and read backend data. No public exploit has been identified at time of analysis, and it is not in CISA KEV.

RemediationAI

Vendor-released patch: update the Readabler plugin to version 2.0.18 or later, which is the primary and definitive fix; consult the Patchstack advisory (https://patchstack.com/database/wordpress/plugin/readabler/vulnerability/wordpress-readabler-plugin-2-0-18-sql-injection-vulnerability) for confirmation. If immediate upgrade is not possible, deploy a WAF rule (for example Patchstack's vPatch or an equivalent ruleset) to block SQL-injection patterns against the plugin's endpoints, and consider temporarily deactivating the Readabler plugin - the trade-off being loss of accessibility-toolbar functionality for site visitors until the update is applied. Restricting or monitoring database user privileges for the WordPress account can limit the blast radius but does not close the injection itself.

Affected VersionsENISA

Readabler n/a <2.0.18

Affected Packages

euvd readabler_n_a fix: 2.0.18

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

Readabler is a commercial accessibility toolbar plugin for WordPress developed by Merkulove (CPE cpe:2.3:a:merkulove:readabler). The flaw is CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command), meaning user-controlled input reaches a database query without proper parameterization or sanitization. In WordPress plugins this class of bug typically arises when an AJAX/REST handler or front-end endpoint passes request parameters into a $wpdb query built by string concatenation, allowing an attacker to alter query logic and extract data from the WordPress database.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Vendor (Patchstack) PRIMARY 9.3 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:L
vuln.today AI 8.2 HIGH

Unauthenticated network SQLi with low complexity (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N); primary impact is data disclosure (C:H) with limited write potential (I:L), and I assess no scope change absent evidence the DB crosses a security authority (S:U).

3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:N
4.0 AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Primary rating from Vendor (Patchstack).

CVSS VectorVendor: Patchstack

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
None
Availability
Low

Lifecycle Timeline

2
Patch available
Aug 18, 2026 - 15:02 EUVD
CVE Published
Aug 18, 2026 - 14:00 cve.org
CRITICAL 9.3

DescriptionCVE.org

Unauthenticated SQL Injection in Readabler < 2.0.18 versions.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

The Readabler WordPress plugin contains a critical SQL injection vulnerability affecting all versions before 2.0.18 that allows unauthenticated attackers to directly query the website's database. This exposes customer data, user credentials, and sensitive business information stored in WordPress databases to unauthorized access and manipulation. Organizations running this accessibility plugin face immediate risk of data breach and should prioritize mitigation pending patch availability.

Business Impact: Severe
Compensating Controls

Disable or uninstall Readabler plugin pending patch availability. If plugin is essential for accessibility compliance, implement WAF rules targeting SQL injection payloads, restrict database user privileges to read-only where possible, enable comprehensive database query logging and alerting, and isolate WordPress instances on a restricted network segment. Monitor for indicators of compromise including unusual database query patterns and data access from unexpected sources.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.3%
Top 78% exploitable
Prevalence
Medium
commercial WordPress accessibility plugin, moderate but not universal deployment
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.3%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision
Out-of-Cycle
Exploitation
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable
Yes
Human Impact
Very High
Technical Impact
Partial

Priority Score

46
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +46
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

SQL injection exploits the way applications construct database queries by mixing user input directly into SQL statements.

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