Plugin Name	WP Attractive Donations System
Type of Vulnerability	SQL Injection
CVE Number	CVE-2026-28115
Urgency	High
CVE Publish Date	2026-02-28
Source URL	CVE-2026-28115

Urgent Security Alert: SQL Injection Vulnerability (CVE-2026-28115) in WP Attractive Donations System Plugin — Immediate Steps for WordPress Site Owners

Security experts at Managed-WP have identified a critical SQL injection vulnerability, CVE-2026-28115, affecting the WP Attractive Donations System – Easy Stripe & Paypal donations WordPress plugin, impacting all versions up to and including 1.25. This vulnerability carries a high severity rating (CVSS 9.3) and can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers, posing an immediate threat to any site using this plugin. Currently, no official patch from the plugin developer has been released.

If you have this plugin active on your WordPress site, treat this as an emergency. This advisory is crafted from the standpoint of Managed-WP, a trusted WordPress security provider specializing in managed Web Application Firewall (WAF) services. Our aim is to deliver clear, actionable guidance for website owners, administrators, and hosting providers to swiftly mitigate risk and plan a secure remediation path.

In this article, you’ll find:

• A clear explanation of the vulnerability and its potential impact
• How attackers might exploit it—overview for defenders
• Steps for immediate containment and mitigation
• Recommended WAF/virtual patch rules and monitoring recommendations
• Forensics and recovery actions in case of suspected compromise
• Long-term security hardening strategies
• How Managed-WP can assist you—including free and premium managed protection options

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Executive Summary (TL;DR)

• Vulnerability: SQL Injection (CVE-2026-28115)
• Component: WP Attractive Donations System plugin
• Affected Versions: 1.25 and below
• Authentication: None required (unauthenticated)
• Severity: High (CVSS 9.3)
• Official Patch: None available as of disclosure date
• Immediate Action: Disable/remove plugin, enable WAF virtual patching, rotate credentials, audit logs and backups

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Why This Vulnerability is a Critical Threat

SQL Injection vulnerabilities allow attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code. For WordPress sites, this can lead to devastating consequences including:

• Unauthorized viewing or extraction of sensitive data—user lists, password hashes, payment and donor details
• Modification or deletion of site data such as adding administrative users or changing content
• Complete site takeover through creation of backdoors or malicious administrative accounts
• Exposure of payment and donor information, triggering compliance violations
• Persistent compromises that survive software updates unless thoroughly cleaned

The fact that this exploit requires no authentication means attackers can scan and exploit vulnerable sites en masse across the internet, putting donation and payment processing sites at extreme risk.

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Technical Overview for Security Teams (Defensive Focus)

SQL injection occurs when untrusted input is incorporated into SQL queries without proper validation or parameterization. This vulnerability resides in the plugin’s code accepting user input that is directly embedded into SQL statements executed on the WordPress database.

Attackers commonly probe plugin endpoints—such as AJAX handlers, REST API paths, and plugin files inside /wp-content/plugins/—trying to inject SQL control characters (quotes, SQL keywords, comment indicators, etc.). Successful injections enable attackers to read, modify, or delete database content.

We do not provide exploit code but focus on prevention, detection, and containment.

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Immediate Containment Checklist (Priority Actions)

1. Backup Your Site Offline
   – Make a complete backup of your files and database, storing it securely off-server to preserve evidence if needed.
2. Verify Plugin Installation and Version
   – Check via WordPress Admin: Plugins → WP Attractive Donations System
   – Or command line: wp plugin list | grep -i attractive
3. If Plugin Version ≤ 1.25, Immediately Disable or Remove It
   – Deactivate or uninstall via the WordPress dashboard.
   – If admin is inaccessible, rename the plugin folder via CLI/SFTP:
   mv wp-content/plugins/wp-attractive-donations-system wp-content/plugins/wp-attractive-donations-system.disabled
4. Implement Maintenance or Read-Only Mode
   – Temporarily block user interaction affecting payment or donations functionality to reduce attack surface.
5. Enable Web Application Firewall (WAF) Virtual Patching
   – If you use Managed-WP or another WAF, activate rules that block known malicious requests targeting this plugin.
   – If no WAF in place, apply server-level blocks following our recommendations.
6. Rotate Secrets and Credentials
   – Change WordPress admin passwords, database credentials, payment gateway API keys (Stripe, PayPal), and any integration tokens linked to the site.
7. Audit Logs For Suspicious Activity
   – Review web server access/error logs, WordPress debug logs, and database logs for exploit attempts or anomalies.
8. Increase Monitoring and Network Isolation If Indicators Are Found
   – If compromise is suspected, take the site offline, preserve all logs, and plan restoration from clean backups.

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Investigative Guide: Where to Hunt for Signs of Compromise

• Web Server Logs
  • Requests targeting plugin directory: /wp-content/plugins/wp-attractive-donations-system/
  • Payloads containing SQL meta-characters: %27, %22, +UNION+, SELECT, ORDER BY, GROUP BY, –, /*, etc.
• WordPress Logs
  • Unauthorized creation of new admin users
  • Unexplained changes in content or posts
  • Unusual login activity or failed login splurges
• Database Activity
  • Unexpected SELECT queries on sensitive tables (wp_users, wp_posts, wp_options)
  • New user accounts with elevated privileges
  • Suspicious or repetitive queries containing raw SQL control sequences
• Filesystem Checks
  • Recently modified PHP files in uploads or theme/plugin directories
  • Obfuscated PHP or webshell files
• Cron Jobs and Scheduled Events
  • Unrecognized cron hooks or scheduled PHP executions

Sample CLI commands for searching suspicious activity:

grep -i "wp-attractive-donations" /var/log/apache2/access.log*

grep -iE "wp-attractive-donations|wp_attractive|attractive_donations" /var/log/nginx/access.log* | grep -iE "union|select|information_schema|sleep|benchmark|concat|--|/\*"

find wp-content/uploads -type f -iname "*.php" -mtime -30 -print

find wp-content/themes wp-content/plugins -type f -mtime -30 -ls

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Technical Mitigations to Apply Immediately

If you cannot safely remove the plugin immediately (for example, if this breaks live payment flows), implement the following workarounds:

1. Block Access to Plugin Files via Web Server

   Nginx configuration example:

   location ~* /wp-content/plugins/wp-attractive-donations-system/ {
       deny all;
       return 403;
   }
   

   Apache .htaccess example:

   <Directory "/var/www/html/wp-content/plugins/wp-attractive-donations-system/">
       Order allow,deny
       Deny from all
   </Directory>
   

2. Restrict wp-login.php and wp-admin Access by IP
   Limit access to administrator IP addresses where feasible.
3. Add Targeted WAF Virtual Patch Rules
   Configure your WAF to block requests containing the plugin path and typical SQL injection patterns.
   Example ModSecurity snippet for defenders:

# Block suspicious SQL payloads targeting plugin path
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains /wp-content/plugins/wp-attractive-donations-system/" "phase:1,id:900100,deny,status:403,msg:'Blocked WP Attractive Donations plugin path request'"
SecRule REQUEST_URI|ARGS|ARGS_NAMES "@rx (?i:(union|select|concat|information_schema|sleep|benchmark|--|/\*|;))" "phase:2,id:900101,deny,log,status:403,msg:'SQLi-like payload blocked'"

Note: Tune these rules to minimize false positives by ensuring both conditions (plugin path + SQL patterns) are met before blocking. Monitor logs closely.

4. Implement Rate Limiting and Throttling
   Limit frequent requests to vulnerable plugin endpoints to deter brute-force or mass scanning attempts.
5. Temporarily Harden Database User Permissions
   Remove unnecessary privileges such as GRANT, DROP, or CREATE. Use read-only accounts where possible for public read interactions (note: may require code changes).

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Recommended WAF Rules — Defensive Examples

Below are example rules for Web Application Firewalls or ModSecurity-compatible systems. These conservative rules focus on blocking attacks targeting the plugin path with known SQL injection patterns. Always deploy in monitoring/detection mode initially to track false positives before enforcing block mode.

1) Block requests to plugin folder containing SQL keywords:

Condition A: REQUEST_URI contains "wp-attractive-donations" or "WP_AttractiveDonationsSystem"
AND
Condition B: ARGS|ARGS_NAMES|REQUEST_BODY matches regex for SQL meta-characters or keywords
If true -> BLOCK and LOG

2) Reject non-numeric input for endpoints expecting IDs:

SecRule REQUEST_URI "@rx /wp-content/plugins/wp-attractive-donations-system/.*(donation|id)" \
  "chain,deny,id:900200,msg:'Non-numeric id to donation endpoint'"
SecRule ARGS:id "!@rx ^\d+$"

3) Rate limit or CAPTCHA challenge on repeated/frequent requests:
Apply rate limits or CAPTCHA challenges on IPs making suspicious or repeated plugin-related requests.

Remember, virtual patching mitigates risk temporarily pending a full vendor patch; it is not a replacement for timely updates.

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Forensic Measures If You Suspect Site Has Been Exploited

1. Preserve All Evidence
   Archive logs, current site files, and database backups offsite for detailed forensic analysis.
2. Isolate the Site
   Temporarily take the site offline or disconnect it from the network.
3. Analyze Database For Anomalies
   Check for unexpected admin accounts:

   SELECT user_login, user_email, user_registered, user_status FROM wp_users ORDER BY ID DESC LIMIT 50;

4. Examine wp_usermeta for unauthorized privilege escalations.
5. Search for webshells or malicious PHP via string searches or recently modified files in upload directories.
6. Review scheduled tasks and cron jobs for unknown or suspicious hooks.
7. Clean or restore from a trusted backup once cleaned. Rotate all credentials after recovery.
8. Notify relevant stakeholders and comply with breach notification laws if donor/payment data was exposed.

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Long-Term Security Hardening Recommendations

• Remove unused or rarely used plugins, especially those handling payments or public input.
• Establish a regular update and patching schedule (weekly scans for plugin, theme, and core updates).
• Use staging environments to test updates prior to production deployment.
• Apply the principle of least privilege to database users and server accounts.
• Harden file system permissions; disable PHP execution in upload directories. For example, Apache configuration:

<Directory "/var/www/html/wp-content/uploads">
    <FilesMatch "\.php$">
        Require all denied
    </FilesMatch>
</Directory>

• Implement file integrity monitoring for core, plugins, and themes.
• Maintain centralized logging and alerts for rapid incident detection.
• Develop and routinely test incident response plans and backup restoration processes.

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How Managed-WP Supports Your WordPress Security Needs

Managed-WP provides a comprehensive managed Web Application Firewall (WAF) and proactive security services designed specifically for WordPress. Our layered approach includes:

• Immediate application of virtual patches targeting known vulnerabilities like CVE-2026-28115
• Automated malware scanning and detection of indicators of compromise
• Defenses aligned with OWASP Top 10 attack categories: SQLi, XSS, CSRF, and more
• Expert incident response and remediation assistance available with premium plans

Whether you need quick virtual patching or comprehensive incident management, Managed-WP helps reduce risk, minimize downtime, and fast-track recovery.

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Start with Free Managed Protection at Managed-WP

If you’re responsible for WordPress site security and need immediate, managed protection during assessment or remediation, try Managed-WP’s Basic free plan. It includes essential firewall protection, malware scanning, and mitigation for common attack vectors. Quickly enable protection here:

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Want more features like automated removals, IP blacklists/whitelists, monthly security reports, or virtual patching? Our Standard and Pro plans deliver hands-on support and enhanced defense layers.

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Practical To-Do List: What You Must Do Within 24 Hours

1. Verify if WP Attractive Donations System plugin is installed and version is ≤ 1.25.
2. Deactivate or uninstall the plugin immediately if vulnerable.
3. Enable WAF virtual patch rules blocking plugin paths and SQL injection patterns.
4. Take full offline backup of the WordPress site—files and database—and secure it offsite.
5. Immediately rotate all WordPress, database, and payment provider credentials.
6. Audit server and application logs for suspicious access and data exfiltration patterns.
7. Scan for recently modified files and verify no unauthorized admin accounts exist.
8. If suspicious activity is found, isolate the site and start incident response procedures.
9. Enroll in Managed-WP’s free plan for quick interim managed WAF protection: https://my.wp-firewall.com/buy/wp-firewall-free-plan/
10. Test vendor’s official patch in a staged environment before production deployment once available.

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Example ModSecurity Rule and Explanation (Defensive)

This example demonstrates how to detect and block SQLi attempts targeting the plugin folder. Start in logging mode before enforcing blocks to minimize false positives.

# Rule ID 100900 — Detect SQLi attempts on plugin path
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains wp-attractive-donations" "phase:1,id:100900,pass,log,msg:'Targeting WP Attractive Donations plugin',tag:'WP-Attractive-Donations'"
SecRule REQUEST_URI|ARGS|ARGS_NAMES|REQUEST_HEADERS|REQUEST_BODY "@rx (?i:(\b(union|select|insert|update|delete|information_schema|concat|benchmark|sleep)\b|(--|/\*|\*/|;)))" \
  "phase:2,id:100901,deny,log,status:403,msg:'Blocked probable SQLi against WP Attractive Donations plugin',capture,tag:'SQLi',severity:2"

Explanation:
– The first rule flags requests that target the plugin folder,
– The second denies requests containing SQL injection tokens.
– Always tune and monitor these rules carefully to reduce false positives before enforcing blocking.

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Closing Remarks from Managed-WP Security Team

This vulnerability serves as a serious reminder: WordPress plugins that accept user input—especially those handling payments and donations—must be built and maintained with high security standards. SQL injection remains one of the most dangerous and commonly exploited vulnerabilities when input sanitization and query parameterization are insufficient.

WordPress site owners’ top priority is clear: immediately reduce your exposure by disabling or removing the vulnerable plugin, enabling WAF virtual patching, rotating credentials, and auditing logs for signs of suspicious activity. Once the official patch is released, test it thoroughly in staging before deploying to your live environment.

If you need hands-on assistance securing your site quickly, Managed-WP’s free managed firewall plan offers essential protection right away. Our security team is also available for incident response, forensic investigation, and remediation services for those requiring expert support.

Remain vigilant and act fast—attackers aggressively scan for such vulnerabilities upon public disclosure.

— Managed-WP Security Team

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Appendix: Quick Resources

• CVE Identifier: CVE-2026-28115
• Plugin Slug: wp-attractive-donations-system (and variations)
• Useful WP-CLI Commands:
  • List installed plugins and versions:
    wp plugin list --format=csv
  • Deactivate plugin if installed:
    wp plugin deactivate wp-attractive-donations-system
  • Find recently modified files (last 30 days):
    find wp-content -type f -mtime -30 -ls

(End of post)

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