CVE-2024-25927: SQL Injection Vulnerability in postMash

A recently discovered security vulnerability (CVE-2024-25927) may potentially impact users of the WordPress plugin called "postMash – custom post order" developed by Joel Starnes. The vulnerability is an instance of SQL Injection, which has been found in the plugin's logic and exposes the application to potential attacks by malicious users. The affected plugin versions are from n/a (not available) through 1.2..

This post offers a detailed explanation of the vulnerability, its severity, code snippet related to it, original references and exploit details. Our primary objective is sharing critical knowledge that enables developers and administrators to protect their WordPress installations against potential exploitation of this security flaw.

SQL Injection Explained

SQL Injection is a code injection technique, through which an attacker can execute arbitrary SQL queries on the target application's database. In simple terms, it means the attacker can manipulate or extract data from the database by introducing malicious SQL queries. Potential outcomes of a successful SQL Injection attack might include data theft, data insertion, modification or complete deletion.

The Vulnerability in postMash – Custom Post Order Plugin

The vulnerability in the WordPress plugin "postMash – custom post order" occurs due to improper neutralization of special elements that are used in an SQL Command (SQL Injection). This allows an attacker to send rogue SQL statements to the application's database, leading to the data breach or modification. We've discovered that this vulnerability affects the plugin from not available (n/a) versions through the 1.2. version.

Code Snippet

Here's a sample code snippet showcasing the incorrect user-supplied data handling that leads to the SQL Injection vulnerability:

<?php

$pid = $_GET['pid'];
$new_order = $_GET['new_order'];

$wpdb->query("UPDATE $table_name SET post_order='$new_order' WHERE id='$pid'");
?>

In this example, you can notice that the user input is being received directly from the $_GET parameters and used in the SQL query without proper sanitization or validation. This makes it prone to SQL Injection attacks.

Original References

The official CVE reference for this vulnerability can be found here: CVE-2024-25927

Other valuable resources for additional information are

1. Joel Starnes - postMash – custom post order (Original Author) - Link
2. OWASP - SQL Injection - Link

Exploit Details

The vulnerability itself can be exploited by sending malicious SQL statements as input to the vulnerable code. Here's a simple example demonstrating an exploitation of the identified vulnerability:

Assuming the attacker is aware of the plugin's vulnerable parameter, they can craft the following URL to inject an SQL statement:

http://example.com/wp-postmash/entry.php?pid=5&new_order=100';; UPDATE wp_users SET user_pass = MD5('hacked123') WHERE user_login = 'admin'; --'

This malicious URL will update the administrator's password to 'hacked123' if executed successfully.

Employ strong security configurations to protect their websites.

This vulnerability emphasizes the importance of continuously auditing and testing the security of your WordPress plugins, applications, and installations. By staying vigilant and adhering to the best security practices, you can greatly decrease the risk of being affected by such vulnerabilities.

Timeline

Published on: 02/28/2024 13:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 02/28/2024 14:06:45 UTC