CVE-2026-16482 rtMedia for WordPress, BuddyPress and bbPress <= 4.7.11 - Unauthenticated SQL Injection via 'compare' Parameter
Unauthenticated attackers can extract sensitive database information via SQL injection in the rtMedia WordPress plugin.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- None listed
What is CVE-2026-16482?
CVE-2026-16482 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in rtcamp rtMedia for WordPress, BuddyPress and bbPress, published on 12 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
The rtMedia for WordPress, BuddyPress and bbPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based blind SQL Injection via the 'compare' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 4.7.11 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database. This is exploitable on any public page containing an rtMedia shortcode (e.g., [rtmedia_gallery]) when the rtmedia_shortcode GET parameter is set, because RTMediaQuery::query() merges $_REQUEST into the internal query while only validating top-level array keys, allowing the nested 'compare' subvalue to reach the vulnerable sink without authentication.
Weakness: CWE-89
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-16482?
How do I fix CVE-2026-16482?
No fix has been published for CVE-2026-16482 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Use parameterised queries everywhere and never build SQL by joining strings. Upgrade affected software first; a web application firewall only buys time. More about SQL injection.
Is CVE-2026-16482 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-16482 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-qjq8-433v-gm7m.