CVE-2007-6318 in WordPress
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in wp-includes/query.php in WordPress 2.3.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the s parameter, when DB_CHARSET is set to (1) Big5, (2) GBK, or possibly other character set encodings that support a "\" in a multibyte character.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2021
This vulnerability resides in the WordPress content management system and represents a critical sql injection flaw that emerged in versions 2.3.1 and earlier. The issue specifically affects the wp-includes/query.php file where the application fails to properly sanitize user input when processing the s parameter. The vulnerability becomes exploitable when the database character set is configured to use Big5 or GBK encodings, which are multibyte character sets that support the backslash character within multibyte sequences. This particular configuration creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate sql queries through crafted input that can bypass standard sanitization measures. The vulnerability operates under the common weakness enumeration CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection flaws as a critical security concern affecting database integrity and application security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through careful manipulation of the s parameter in url requests where the attacker can inject malicious sql code that gets executed within the database context. When WordPress processes queries with these specific character sets, the backslash character within multibyte sequences creates parsing ambiguities that allow attackers to inject sql commands. The vulnerability leverages the fact that certain character encodings can interpret the backslash differently than standard ascii character sets, creating a condition where sql injection becomes possible. This type of attack falls under the attack technique T1071.004 from the attack tactic T1071 which describes application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting web applications through sql injection vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands on the database server without authentication. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, data exfiltration, unauthorized user account creation, and potential system takeover. Attackers could retrieve sensitive information including user credentials, posts, and configuration data, while also being able to modify or delete database content. The vulnerability affects not only the WordPress application itself but also the underlying database security, potentially exposing the entire web infrastructure to further attacks. Organizations running vulnerable WordPress installations face significant risk of data breaches and system compromise, particularly in environments where database access is not properly restricted.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrade to WordPress version 2.3.2 or later where the issue has been patched. System administrators should also implement proper input validation and sanitization measures at multiple layers of the application stack. The recommended approach involves configuring database character sets to avoid problematic encodings or implementing proper escaping mechanisms for sql queries. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls to monitor and filter suspicious sql injection attempts, and conduct regular security assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities. The patch addresses the core issue by properly handling character encoding scenarios where backslash characters could interfere with sql query parsing, thereby preventing the injection of malicious commands through the s parameter. Security monitoring should also include detection of unusual database access patterns and unauthorized data manipulation attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.