CVE-2026-60137: WordPress Core SQL Injection Vulnerability

Patch now

MEDIUM 5.9EXPLOITEDREMOTEUPGRADE

CVE-2026-60137 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.9) affecting wordpress, reported as exploited in the wild. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

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.

Why this priority

EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited
Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV)
Public exploit reference
Covered by 5 security sources
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.9 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	High
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	5.3% (top 7%)
CISA exploited list	Yes, fix due 2026-08-04
Weakness	CWE-89
Published	2026-07-17
Last modified	2026-10-08

Publisher (CNA): WPScan · Vendor: wordpress

Last updated 2026-10-08 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-07-17 20:17 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-07-21Exploited Added to the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
2026-08-04Deadline CISA due date for US federal agencies to patch
2026-10-08 10:35 UTCUpdated Record last modified

wordpress wordpress UPGRADE

Affected: >= 6.8 and < 6.8.6 · >= 6.9 and < 6.9.5 · >= 7.0 and < 7.0.2

Fixed in: 6.8.6, 6.9.5, 7.0.2

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.8

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy wordpress || rpm -q wordpress || wordpress --version

2. UPGRADE to 6.8.6 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade wordpress

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade wordpress

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 6.8 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison wordpress sudo apt install wordpress=<VERSION_BEFORE_6.8> sudo apt-mark hold wordpress

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list wordpress sudo dnf downgrade wordpress-<VERSION_BEFORE_6.8> sudo dnf versionlock add wordpress

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Exact fixes by distribution

Fedora 46 · gcl · FIXED · 2.7.1-12.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-ff383a759b · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-ff383a759b

Fedora ELN · mozjs140 · FIXED · 140.13.0-5.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-f7ed0026e0 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-f7ed0026e0

Debian 12 · wordpress · NOT AFFECTED

Debian 13 · wordpress · FIXED · 6.8.6+dfsg1-0+deb13u1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade wordpress dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' wordpress)" ge "6.8.6+dfsg1-0+deb13u1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

GitHub PoC: codeb0ssx/Ultimate-wp2shell (10 stars)
GitHub PoC: Colere-Sys/wp2shell-poc (4 stars)
GitHub PoC: h4cd0c/wp2shell (0 stars)
Metasploit: WordPress Core wp2shell Unauthenticated SQL Injection via REST Batch Route Confusion
Metasploit: WordPress WP2Shell REST API Batch Route Confusion SQLi to RCE

Advisories and coverage

Official advisories

F5 Security Advisories: CVE-2026-63030 and CVE-2026-60137: 'wp2shell' Captured Exploit Payload 2026-08-08
IPA Japan Security Alerts: WordPressの脆弱性対策について(CVE-2026-60137、CVE-2026-63030：wp2shell) 2026-07-21
CERT-FR Alerts: Multiples vulnérabilités dans WordPress (20 juillet 2026) 2026-07-20

Research and news

Wiz Research: Exploitation in the Wild of wp2shell 2026-07-20
VulnCheck Blog: WP2Shell Vulnerabilities: CVE-2026-60137 and CVE-2026-63030 2026-07-17

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · CISA KEV catalog · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2026-60137?

wordpress: upgrade to 6.8.6, 6.9.5, 7.0.2. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2026-60137 being exploited?

Yes. CVE-2026-60137 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list, so treat it as patch-now.

What does CVE-2026-60137 affect?

CVE-2026-60137 affects wordpress. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.9). 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.

How urgent is CVE-2026-60137?

Priority 82/100. EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited; Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV); Public exploit reference; Covered by 5 security sources; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

WordPress vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-63030 CRITICAL 9.8 EXPLOITED UPGRADE WordPress Core Interpretation Conflict Vulnerability
CVE-2026-87902 HIGH 8.1 EXPLOITED UPGRADE WordPress Core Remote File Inclusion Vulnerability

References

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