WPML Multilingual CMS <= 4.9.5 - Incorrect Authorization to Authenticated (Subscriber+) SQL Injection via ‘elementIds’
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 4.9.6
- Affected Plugin
- WPML Multilingual CMS
- Affected Version
<= 4.9.5- CVSS
- 6.5Medium
- Weakness type
- CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
- CVE
CVE-2026-17509
At a glance
CVE-2026-17509 is a medium-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in the WPML Multilingual CMS WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 4.9.5. It carries a CVSS score of 6.5 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality impact). Exploitation requires an authenticated account at Subscriber level or above. The issue is fixed in version 4.9.6; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed September 2026, reported by h0xilo.
Vulnerability Overview
The WPML Multilingual CMS plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via the ‘elementIds’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 4.9.5 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 Subscriber-level access and above, to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database. This vulnerability is exploitable due to an authorization bypass where the registered authorization callback fails to execute, allowing any authenticated user regardless of role to access administrative translation functionalities.
Technical Analysis
The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality.
CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
WPML Multilingual CMS <= 4.9.5 carries this weakness at elementIds, and reaching it takes an account at Subscriber level or above. SQL injection happens when request data is concatenated into a query instead of being bound as a parameter, letting an attacker change the structure of the statement rather than just its values.
A working injection can read any table the database user can see, which on a WordPress install means user records, password hashes and session or API secrets stored in options. For WPML Multilingual CMS the fix is 4.9.6: builds <= 4.9.5 are affected, anything from 4.9.6 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 4.9.6, or a newer patched version
How does WordSec protect against this?
An attacker needs Subscriber access first, so the firewall sees the attempt as traffic from a logged-in account: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: WPML Multilingual CMS 4.9.6 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Firewall
- Alerts
External References
Related records
Same weakness class
Other vulnerabilities in WPML Multilingual CMS
- 9.9CVE-2024-6386: WPML Multilingual CMS <= 4.6.12 Remote Code Execution
CVE-2024-6386 - 8.8CVE-2020-10568: WPML < 4.3.7 Cross-Site Request Forgery Bypass
CVE-2020-10568 - 7.5CVE-2015-2791: WPML <= 3.1.9 Arbitrary Deletion of Content
CVE-2015-2791 - 7.2CVE-2018-18069: WPML <= 3.6.3 Stored Cross-Site Scripting
CVE-2018-18069 - 6.4CVE-2025-3488: WPML Multilingual CMS 3.6.0 - 4.7.3 Stored XSS
CVE-2025-3488 - 6.1WPML <= 4.6.0 Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via wp_lang
- 6.1CVE-2015-9416: WPML 2.9.3-3.2.6 XSS in Accept-Language Header
CVE-2015-9416 - 5.4WPML <= 4.5.10 Unprotected AJAX Actions
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