Plugin Name	Profile Builder Pro
Type of Vulnerability	SQL Injection
CVE Number	CVE-2026-27413
Urgency	High
CVE Publish Date	2026-02-25
Source URL	CVE-2026-27413

Urgent Security Advisory — SQL Injection in Profile Builder Pro (<= 3.13.9): What WordPress Site Owners Must Do Now

On 23 February 2026 a high‑severity SQL Injection vulnerability (CVE‑2026‑27413) affecting Profile Builder Pro versions up to and including 3.13.9 was publicly disclosed. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to inject SQL into database queries processed by the plugin. The vulnerability carries a CVSS score of 9.3 and is classified as A3 (Injection) in OWASP terms — meaning it enables direct interaction with your database and is likely to be weaponized quickly.

This advisory explains the risk in plain language, gives immediate mitigation steps for site owners, outlines development fixes for plugin authors and customizers, and explains how WP‑Firewall protects your WordPress sites (including our free Basic plan). If your site uses Profile Builder Pro, treat this with the highest priority: take action now.

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TL;DR (Quick actions)

• Affected: Profile Builder Pro versions <= 3.13.9
• Vulnerability: Unauthenticated SQL Injection — CVE‑2026‑27413
• Severity: High (CVSS 9.3)
• Immediate actions:
  1. Check your plugin version. If you are on a vulnerable version, assume risk.
  2. If no vendor patch is available, deactivate the plugin until it is fixed.
  3. Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) virtual patch rule to block exploit attempts.
  4. Scan your site for Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) and unauthorized users.
  5. Take a complete backup and, if compromised, isolate and remediate following incident response steps below.
• WP‑Firewall users: enable our WAF ruleset and malware scanner immediately; free plan covers essential protection.

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What is SQL Injection and why is it critical for WordPress?

SQL Injection (SQLi) is an attack that manipulates a web application’s interactions with its database by inserting malicious SQL into user-supplied input. Successful SQLi can allow attackers to:

• Read sensitive data (user accounts, emails, passwords, private content).
• Modify or delete data (alter user roles, drop tables).
• Create or disable admin accounts for persistent access.
• Insert backdoors into the filesystem using data stored in the database (leading to remote code execution).
• Escalate access and pivot to other systems.

On WordPress, the database contains everything from user credentials and posts to plugin settings and authentication salts. An unauthenticated SQLi — as in CVE‑2026‑27413 — is especially severe because an attacker does not need valid credentials to exploit it. That makes rapid mitigation essential.

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Details of the Profile Builder Pro vulnerability (CVE‑2026‑27413)

• Affected software: Profile Builder Pro (plugin)
• Vulnerable versions: <= 3.13.9
• Vulnerability type: SQL Injection (unauthenticated)
• CVE: CVE‑2026‑27413
• CVSS score: 9.3 (High)
• Published: 23 Feb, 2026
• Reported by: independent security researcher (disclosure timeline published by the research community)
• Patch status at disclosure: No official patch available at publication (verify vendor site — if an update is released, apply immediately)

The vulnerability enables an attacker to craft HTTP requests that inject SQL into plugin-controlled database queries. While the publicly disclosed advisory does not list exploitable parameter names (we will not publish exploit code or parameters here), the practical effect is that attackers can run queries against your WordPress database via the plugin’s request handling.

Because the vulnerability is unauthenticated, an attacker can exploit it remotely without any user account. Sites that accept public-facing profile updates, search input, or AJAX requests via the plugin are at greatest risk.

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Why this will likely be exploited fast

• High impact: Direct database access can expose PII, credentials, and financial data.
• Low barrier to exploit: Unauthenticated access means no login or social engineering required.
• Tooling: Attackers quickly weaponize public disclosures into automated scanners and mass‑scanning campaigns.
• Value: Many WordPress sites host valuable data (user lists, membership content, commerce data). Attackers can monetize access.

Assume attackers are scanning the web for sites running vulnerable versions. If you’re using the plugin, prioritize remediation.

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Who is at greatest risk?

• Sites with Profile Builder Pro installed and active that have not yet been updated.
• Membership sites or sites collecting user data (high-value target).
• Multisite WordPress installations where a single compromised plugin can impact many sites.
• Sites without a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or with lax security monitoring.
• Sites that do not keep backups or have weak incident-response processes.

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Immediate actions for site owners (step‑by‑step, prioritized)

1. Verify plugin version
   • In your WordPress admin go to Plugins → Installed Plugins and confirm the Profile Builder Pro version.
   • If the version is <= 3.13.9, treat site as vulnerable until vendor releases an official secure version.
2. If an official patch is available, update immediately
   • The safest path is to apply a vendor-supplied security update. After updating, test site functionality in staging, then production.
3. If no patch is available, disable the plugin
   • Deactivate the plugin in WordPress admin or remove it via SFTP/SSH.
   • Note: Deactivation may break login/registration flows — prepare temporary alternatives for legitimate users (maintenance page, email contact).
4. Deploy WAF virtual patching and blocking rules
   • If you run a WAF (managed or plugin-based), enable an emergency rule to block SQL injection patterns and requests targeting plugin endpoints.
   • Block requests that contain SQL metacharacters or common SQL payload tokens for endpoints served by the plugin.
   • Apply global rate limits and block high‑risk IP addresses when malicious patterns are observed.

   Why this matters: Virtual patching buys time. It blocks exploit attempts at the perimeter even when a code patch for the plugin is not yet available.

5. Run a full site scan and integrity check
   • Scan for malware and file changes. Look for modified PHP files, unexpected .php files in uploads, and changed WordPress core or plugin files.
   • Use file integrity checkers to compare with known-good baselines.
6. Audit users and credentials
   • Review Users → All Users for unexpected administrators.
   • Reset passwords for administrators and any accounts with elevated privileges.
   • Rotate database credentials and WordPress salts if you suspect an active compromise (note: changing DB credentials will require updating wp-config.php).
7. Check logs and traffic
   • Review web server access logs, error logs, and any application logs for suspicious queries or IP addresses.
   • Look for repeated suspicious POST/GET requests targeting plugin endpoints or containing patterns such as ' OR 1=1, UNION SELECT, sleep(, benchmark(, and large encoded payloads.
8. Backup snapshot
   • Create a full backup (files + DB) before making further changes. This snapshot helps forensic work and recovery if needed.
9. Put the site into maintenance mode (if required)
   • If signs of active exploitation are observed, take the site offline to prevent further data exfiltration while you investigate.
10. If you detect compromise, follow incident response steps (below).

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How WP‑Firewall protects your site (what we do and how to use it)

As a WordPress security provider, WP‑Firewall focuses on layered protection. If you already use WP‑Firewall, ensure the following features are enabled right now:

• Managed WAF with virtual patching: Our WAF team pushes rules to block known exploit payloads and requests that target this SQLi vulnerability. These rules inspect parameters, block suspicious payloads, and drop malicious traffic before it reaches WordPress.
• Malware scanner: Scans files and the database for suspicious content and indicators of compromise.
• Mitigation for OWASP Top 10: SQL injection is one of the OWASP Top 10 risks and is a core mitigation in our ruleset.
• Unlimited bandwidth: WAF protection will not throttle legitimate traffic; we protect traffic at scale.
• Logging and alerts (Standard/Pro): Keep an eye on attempted exploitation and review blocked attack logs.

If you are not yet protected by WP‑Firewall, our Basic (Free) tier provides immediate, essential protections including managed firewall, WAF, malware scanner, and OWASP Top 10 mitigation to help stop exploitation attempts while you patch or remove the vulnerable plugin.

(Link to sign up included below in the dedicated section.)

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Developer guidance — how to fix the root cause in code

If you are a plugin developer, site integrator, or customizing Profile Builder Pro, here are secure coding practices and specific fixes to prevent SQL injection:

1. Use WordPress DB APIs properly
   • Never build SQL queries by concatenating untrusted input.
   • Use $wpdb->prepare() for all dynamic queries. This function safely escapes values and binds them as placeholders.

   Unsafe example (do not use):

   global $wpdb;
   $search = $_GET['search'];
   $sql = "SELECT * FROM {$wpdb->prefix}users WHERE user_login LIKE '%" . $search . "%'";
   $rows = $wpdb->get_results($sql);
   

   Safe example:

   global $wpdb;
   $search = '%' . $wpdb->esc_like( sanitize_text_field( $_GET['search'] ?? '' ) ) . '%';
   $sql = $wpdb->prepare(
       "SELECT * FROM {$wpdb->users} WHERE user_login LIKE %s",
       $search
   );
   $rows = $wpdb->get_results( $sql );
   

2. Prefer $wpdb methods over raw queries
   • For inserts and updates, use $wpdb->insert(), $wpdb->update(), and $wpdb->delete() which handle escaping.
3. Validate and sanitize input
   • Use sanitize_text_field(), intval(), floatval(), wp_kses_post() depending on expected input.
   • Enforce input length and patterns (e.g., regex checks) and reject unexpected content early.
4. Use prepared statements for IN clauses (build placeholders)
   • When building IN lists dynamically, create placeholders for each item and pass them to $wpdb->prepare().

   Example:

   $ids = array_map( 'intval', $ids_array ); // ensure integers
   $placeholders = implode( ',', array_fill( 0, count( $ids ), '%d' ) );
   $sql = $wpdb->prepare( "SELECT * FROM {$wpdb->posts} WHERE ID IN ($placeholders)", $ids );
   

   If $ids is empty, do not run the query.

5. Enforce capability checks and nonces on sensitive endpoints
   • For requests that modify data or expose internal queries, check current_user_can() and verify nonce using wp_verify_nonce() for authenticated requests.
   • If an endpoint is intended to be public, strictly control what data is exposed and sanitize heavily.
6. Avoid returning raw DB error messages
   • Detailed SQL errors can leak schema information that helps attackers craft more effective payloads. Log errors to a secure location but return generic messages to callers.
7. Test with fuzzing and security scanners
   • Incorporate automated tests that simulate injection attempts and verify prepared statements correctly block them.

By applying these coding principles, plugin authors eliminate the root cause of SQL injection.

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Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) to check for immediately

• New admin users that you did not create.
• Unexpected changes to the wp_options table (siteurl, home, active_plugins).
• Presence of unknown PHP files in wp-content/uploads or other writeable directories.
• Modified theme or plugin files with obfuscated code (base64_decode, eval, gzinflate).
• Unusual database query logs with suspicious SQL fragments (UNION, SELECT from information_schema).
• Large outbound traffic or repeated requests to suspicious endpoints.
• Cron jobs (wp_cron) or scheduled tasks you did not create.
• Unexpected outbound connections to unknown IPs/domains from the server.
• Sudden increases in database CPU usage or slow queries.

If any IoCs are present, assume the site is compromised until proven otherwise.

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Incident response playbook (if you detect a compromise)

1. Isolate
   • Put the site in maintenance mode or take it offline.
   • Block malicious IP addresses and block traffic to vulnerable plugin endpoints.
2. Preserve evidence
   • Take full backups (files + DB) before making changes. Preserve server logs and timestamps.
   • If you plan to engage digital forensics, preserve read-only copies.
3. Identify and contain
   • Identify backdoors, changed files, and unauthorized accounts.
   • Remove malicious files and quarantine affected components.
4. Eradicate
   • Remove the vulnerability: update or remove the vulnerable plugin code or apply virtual patches.
   • Replace changed files with clean versions from trusted sources.
   • Rotate all relevant credentials: WordPress admin passwords, API keys, database user passwords, hosting control panel logins, and SSH keys as needed.
5. Recover
   • Restore from a clean backup if the infection cannot be reliably cleaned.
   • Harden the site (WAF, file permissions, stricter DB user privileges, security plugins, and monitoring).
6. Post‑incident review
   • Analyze how the attacker gained access and plug the gaps.
   • Implement better monitoring and automated scans.
   • Document lessons learned and update incident response procedures.
7. Notify stakeholders
   • If user data was exposed, follow applicable breach notification laws and inform affected parties.

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Testing mitigations safely

• Do not test exploit payloads on a live production site.
• Use a staging environment that mirrors production to test WAF rules and plugin deactivation effects.
• Monitor for false positives: custom endpoints or integrations may be blocked by overly broad WAF rules. Whitelist trusted IPs or endpoints after careful review.
• Keep a log of WAF‑blocked requests to refine rules without disrupting legitimate users.

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Long‑term hardening recommendations

• Keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated; schedule weekly checks.
• Use a WAF to provide perimeter protection and virtual patching for zero‑day vulnerabilities.
• Enforce least privilege for the DB user: WordPress usually only needs SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE; avoid giving excessive rights like DROP or GRANT.
• Use strong, unique passwords and enforce two‑factor authentication for admin accounts.
• Maintain an immutable offsite backup history (at least 30 days) and test restores regularly.
• Do scheduled security audits and code reviews for any custom plugins or themes.
• Log and monitor: centralize logs (web server, application, database) and set alerts for anomalous behavior.
• Use file integrity monitoring (FIM) to detect unexpected changes.

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How WP‑Firewall helps you respond faster

From a vendor perspective, our responsibilities are prevention, rapid mitigation, detection, and recovery support:

• Prevention: continuous signature updates and vulnerability intelligence minimize exposure windows.
• Rapid mitigation: we push virtual patches to block exploit traffic immediately when high‑risk vulnerabilities are discovered.
• Detection: our scanner and logging provide visibility into attempted exploitation and potential compromises.
• Recovery support: our documentation and managed services help restore sites securely if a compromise occurs.

If you have not yet enabled perimeter protections, the free Basic plan provides immediate WAF coverage and scanning while you decide on long‑term remediation.

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Start with Practical Protection: WP‑Firewall Basic (Free)

If you want immediate, essential protection while you evaluate or patch the plugin, the WP‑Firewall Basic (Free) plan covers core defenses that matter for this kind of SQL injection threat:

• Essential protection: managed firewall with a Web Application Firewall (WAF)
• Unlimited bandwidth: protection won’t cause traffic limits
• Malware scanner: scans for malicious files and payloads
• Mitigation of OWASP Top 10 risks: includes SQL Injection protections

Signing up is fast and free — you can enable protection and virtual patching immediately to block exploit attempts and buy time to patch or remove the vulnerable plugin. For site owners who want additional automated clean-up or stricter IP controls, our paid tiers provide more features:

• Standard ($50/year): all Basic features, plus automatic malware removal and support for blacklisting/whitelisting up to 20 IP addresses.
• Pro ($299/year): adds monthly security reports, auto vulnerability virtual patching, and premium add‑ons such as Dedicated Account Manager, Security Optimization, WP Support Token, Managed WP Service, and Managed Security Service.

Get started with the free plan here: https://my.wp-firewall.com/buy/wp-firewall-free-plan/

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Practical checklist you can use right now

• Check if Profile Builder Pro is installed and verify version.
• If version <= 3.13.9 and no patch exists, deactivate the plugin immediately.
• Enable a WAF and apply virtual patch rules to block SQL injection payloads.
• Create a full backup (files + DB).
• Run a malware and file‑integrity scan.
• Audit users and reset admin passwords.
• Review logs for suspicious requests and IoCs.
• If compromise is suspected, follow the incident response playbook.
• Subscribe to a managed firewall service or professional support if you lack in‑house security resources.

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Closing thoughts

SQL Injection remains one of the most devastating classes of vulnerability because it attacks the data layer directly. An unauthenticated SQLi in a widely used plugin is an urgent, actionable risk. If you run Profile Builder Pro, treat this as if your site is actively at risk until you have taken protective steps.

If you need assistance — whether that’s deploying a virtual patch, running a forensic scan, or restoring a clean backup — consider engaging a trusted WordPress security provider to help contain and remediate. Rapid action saves data, reputation, and cost.

Stay safe: verify your plugin versions, enable WAF protection, scan your site, and follow the incident response steps if necessary.

— WP‑Firewall Security Team