CVE-2014-3961 in Participants Database
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the Export CSV page in the Participants Database plugin before 1.5.4.9 for WordPress allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the query parameter in an "output CSV" action to pdb-signup/.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-3961 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Participants Database plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.5.4.9. This security weakness resides in the Export CSV functionality, which is commonly used by administrators to extract participant data from event registrations or membership databases. The vulnerability exploits the lack of proper input validation and sanitization within the query parameter handling mechanism, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the database layer.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the query parameter within the pdb-signup/ endpoint that processes CSV export requests. When a user initiates a CSV export action, the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape the query parameter value before incorporating it into SQL execution statements. This allows remote attackers to craft malicious SQL payloads that bypass normal input filtering mechanisms and directly influence database operations. The flaw essentially permits attackers to execute unauthorized database queries, potentially leading to data extraction, modification, or deletion depending on the database user's privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with significant database access capabilities that can compromise entire WordPress installations. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could extract sensitive participant information including personal details, contact information, and potentially authentication credentials stored within the database. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require local system access or administrative privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for WordPress sites hosting sensitive participant data. This type of vulnerability commonly falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-3961 require immediate action to upgrade the Participants Database plugin to version 1.5.4.9 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input sanitization measures at the application level, including parameterized queries and proper escaping of user-supplied data before database execution. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though the most effective solution remains the immediate patching of the vulnerable plugin. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, as this type of SQL injection flaw represents a common attack vector that has been consistently exploited across various WordPress plugins throughout the years. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of keeping WordPress core and all plugins updated to prevent exploitation of known security flaws that can lead to complete system compromise.