Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Ghost CMS versions 3.24.0 through 6.19.0 contain a critical SQL injection in the Content API. An unauthenticated attacker could read database data without logging in. The vendor states the issue is fixed in Ghost 6.19.1.
Executive priority
Treat this as a same-cycle emergency update for exposed Ghost sites. The risk is unauthorized database access without credentials, which can create confidentiality and incident-response obligations.
Technical view
CVE-2026-26980 is CWE-89 SQL injection in TryGhost Ghost Content API, affecting >=3.24.0 and <6.19.1. The CVSS 3.1 score is 9.4, with network access, low complexity, no privileges, and no user interaction required. The source bundle describes arbitrary database reads by unauthenticated attackers.
Likely exposure
Internet-facing Ghost publications running versions 3.24.0 through 6.19.0 are the primary concern, especially where the Content API is reachable publicly.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or direct evidence of active exploitation. Public sources do support unauthenticated arbitrary database reads and a third-party advisory exists, so exposure should be treated as urgent.
Researcher notes
Do not broaden scope beyond Ghost core Content API based on this bundle. The sources name affected versions and fixed version, but do not provide confirmed active exploitation, affected plugins, or detailed compensating controls.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade Ghost to version 6.19.1 or later.
- Prioritize internet-facing Ghost sites and managed hosting instances.
- Restrict unnecessary public access to the Content API until upgraded.
- Review the Ghost advisory and release notes for vendor guidance.
- Assess potential database confidentiality exposure after remediation.
Validation and detection
- Inventory all Ghost deployments and record exact versions.
- Confirm each instance runs Ghost 6.19.1 or later.
- Verify public Ghost sites still function after upgrade.
- Review logs for unusual unauthenticated Content API activity.
- Check vendor advisory updates for revised scope or guidance.
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.
CWE-89: Database access and collection lookup
Injection into data stores can inform collection, data access, and exfiltration detection reviews. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupDatabase 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-2026-26980 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
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L3.95.5GitHub_MVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.4CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:L
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/security/advisories/GHSA-w52v-v783-gw97CVE reference, GitHub_M · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/commit/30868d632b2252b638bc8a4c8ebf73964592ed91CVE reference, GitHub_M · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/TryGhost/Ghost/releases/tag/v6.19.1CVE reference, GitHub_M · x_refsource_MISC
- https://blog.xlab.qianxin.com/ghost-cms-page-poisoning-cve-2026-26980/CVE reference, CISA-ADP · third-party-advisory
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.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.