Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This issue affects the FreshMail Newsletter WordPress plugin before version 1.6. The reported flaw is SQL injection in shortcode handling, which can put website database contents at risk. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, authentication requirements, or confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for internet-facing WordPress sites using this plugin. The business risk is potential database compromise, but urgency should be balanced against missing severity data and no cited active exploitation.
Technical view
CVE-2015-9496 describes SQL injection in shortcode.php through the FreshMail shortcode form id substring in freshmail-newsletter before 1.6. Public references include WPVulnDB and an Exploit-DB entry, indicating public exploit information exists, but KEV is false and no active exploitation evidence is provided.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running freshmail-newsletter before 1.6, especially where affected shortcodes are present. The bundle does not identify exact CPEs, affected vendors, or access requirements.
Exploitation context
A public Exploit-DB reference exists, so defenders should treat this as publicly documented. However, the provided sources do not establish active exploitation, exploitation at scale, authentication status, or real-world incident use.
Researcher notes
The record lacks CVSS, CWE, CPE, authentication context, and detailed affected configuration data. Treat Exploit-DB as evidence of public exploit availability, not proof of active exploitation.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the freshmail-newsletter plugin and installed version.
- Upgrade to version 1.6 or later if a supported release is available.
- Disable or remove the plugin if no supported fixed version is available.
- Check vendor and WordPress plugin guidance before changing production sites.
- Review database and web logs for suspicious plugin-related requests.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether freshmail-newsletter is installed on each WordPress site.
- Verify plugin versions are not earlier than 1.6.
- Review site content for FreshMail shortcode usage.
- Confirm remediation in staging before production rollout.
- Monitor logs after remediation for continued suspicious activity.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Database behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2015-9496 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/7972CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- 36942CVE reference · exploit, x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.