WordPress Core SQL Injection Vulnerability

WordPress 6.8.x before 6.8.6, 6.9.x before 6.9.5, and 7.0.x before 7.0.2 does not properly sanitise the author__not_in parameter of WP_Query, which could allow SQL Injection when a plugin or theme passes untrusted input to the parameter.

CheckOps priority index

4.3/10 Patch within 7 days

Severity5.9

Probability0.5

Exploitation3/5

Severity = CVSS. Probability = EPSS (FIRST). Exploitation = public signals: KEV, EUVD, ransomware, EPSS above 10 %, no account required.

EPSS · today 5.3% higher than 92.6% of CVEs

CVSS 3.1 5.9 AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:

Exploited for 105 days 21 Jul 2026

CISA due date 04 Aug 2026 for US federal agencies

Exploitation probability EPSS · FIRST

EPSS probability (%)Percentile among all CVEs

Exploitation signals 3 / 5

KEV catalog (CISA)21 Jul 2026
Exploited in EUVD (ENISA)21 Jul 2026
Used by ransomwareno
EPSS above 10 %5.3%
No account, over the networkyes

What to do

Fix

Apply the vendor’s fix as soon as it is available.

CISA guidance: Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.

Meanwhile

Take the service off the internet or restrict access to it, watch the logs and look for signs of compromise.

Manufacturers (CRA)

Exploited vulnerability in your product: early warning to ENISA within 24 h, then notification within 72 h (Article 14 of the Cyber Resilience Act). The CRA explained

Affected products

WordPressCore

Affected versions

6.9.0 <6.9.5
7.0.0 <7.0.2
6.8.0 <6.8.6

Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE-89

Open source packages OSV

Affected libraries according to OSV, with fixed versions.

Timeline

17 Jul 2026
Published
21 Jul 2026
Exploitation reported (ENISA)
21 Jul 2026
Added to the KEV catalog
04 Aug 2026
CISA remediation due date

References

Other exploited vulnerabilities from the same vendor

CVE-2026-87902WordPress Core Remote File Inclusion Vulnerability
8.5 · Actively exploited
CVE-2026-63030WordPress Core Interpretation Conflict Vulnerability
6.6 · Actively exploited
CVE-2020-25213WordPress File Manager Plugin Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
9.3 · Background exploitation
CVE-2020-11738WordPress Snap Creek Duplicator Plugin File Download Vulnerability
8.3 · Background exploitation
CVE-2019-9978WordPress Social Warfare Plugin Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability
7.0 · Background exploitation