# CVE-2026-16258: Ajax Search Lite < 4.14.5 - Unauthenticated PHP Object Injection via Search Statistics REST Endpoint

> Unauthenticated attackers can achieve remote code execution via PHP object injection in the Ajax Search Lite WordPress plugin.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 7 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-m7vw-4232-p79x

## What is CVE-2026-16258?

CVE-2026-16258 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Unknown Ajax Search Lite, published on 7 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Ajax Search Lite  WordPress plugin before 4.14.5 does not prevent the deserialization of untrusted input, allowing unauthenticated attackers to perform PHP Object Injection. When a suitable POP chain is present via another installed Ajax Search Lite  WordPress plugin before 4.14.5 or , this can be leveraged to achieve Remote Code Execution.

Weakness: CWE-502 (Deserialization of Untrusted Data)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-16258?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-16258?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-16258 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-16258 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-16258 exists.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-16258 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-16258 is a critical unsafe deserialization vulnerability in Unknown Ajax Search Lite, published on 7 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-16258 exists.

Affected product: Unknown Ajax Search Lite. 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-2026-16258/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-16258/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-16258
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-16258
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-16258

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-16258/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.