# CVE-2026-123488: Craft CMS 4.0.0 before 4.18.9 SQL Injection via Element Search Endpoint


- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 Nov 2026
- **Updated:** 9 Nov 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qvg8-69ff-cf67

## What is CVE-2026-123488?

CVE-2026-123488 is a critical vulnerability in craftcms cms, published on 6 Nov 2026. 

### Official description

Craft CMS 4.0.0 before 4.18.9 and 5.0.0 before 5.11.2 contains an unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability in the element search endpoint because the attribute parameter is concatenated into the query unsanitized and emulated PDO prepares allow stacked statements. Remote attackers can read and write the database, setting the admin flag or overwriting password hashes in the users table to gain administrator access.

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-123488?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-123488?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-123488 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-123488 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-123488 exists.

Public exploit code:

- POC exploit for CVE-2026-123488 - unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability in Craft CMS (MySQL/MariaDB backend). Admin takeover. (github_poc): https://github.com/fixedbyreboot/CVE-2026-123488-POC
- PoC for CVE-2026-123488: unauthenticated SQLi in the element search endpoint (CWE-89) escalating to admin via stacked UPDATE;  (github_poc): https://github.com/dinosn/CVE-2026-123488-CraftCMS-Lab
- Detection-only triage for the Craft CMS Nov 2026 batch headlined by CVE-2026-123488 (CVSS 9.8 unauthenticated SQL injection): grade 4.x/5.x installs against the 4.18.9 / 5.11.2 fixes. No traffic, no probes. (github_poc): https://github.com/foxcornlab/craft-cms-scanner
- CVE-2026-123488 (github_poc): https://github.com/ashrafzaryouh/CVE-2026-123488
- Craft CMS < 4.18.9, < 5.11.2 - Unauthenticated SQL Injection (nuclei): http/cves/2026/CVE-2026-123488.yaml

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-123488 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-123488 is a critical vulnerability in craftcms cms, published on 6 Nov 2026. 
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-123488 exists.

Affected product: craftcms cms. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-123488/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-123488/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-123488
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-123488
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-123488

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-123488/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.