CVE-2016-10909 in booking-calendar-contact-form Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The booking-calendar-contact-form plugin before 1.0.24 for WordPress has SQL injection.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10909 affects the booking-calendar-contact-form plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 1.0.24, presenting a critical security flaw that exposes systems to unauthorized data access and potential system compromise. This plugin facilitates calendar-based booking and contact form functionality for WordPress websites, making it a common target for attackers seeking to exploit weaknesses in web applications. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the plugin's database interaction mechanisms, creating an environment where malicious actors can manipulate SQL queries through user-controllable parameters.
The technical implementation of this SQL injection flaw occurs when the plugin processes user input without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code into database queries. This vulnerability specifically affects parameters used in calendar and contact form submissions where user data is directly incorporated into SQL statements without appropriate escaping or parameterization. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially gaining read access to sensitive information, modifying or deleting database records, and in severe cases, escalating privileges to gain administrative control over the affected WordPress installation. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which classifies SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with a pathway to compromise entire WordPress installations and potentially the underlying server infrastructure. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data stored in the database, which could then be used for further attacks including account takeovers, data breaches, and lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability also poses risks to business continuity and regulatory compliance, as unauthorized access to database contents may result in significant financial penalties and reputational damage. According to ATT&CK framework category T1190, this vulnerability represents a technique used by adversaries to gain access to systems through application layer attacks, specifically targeting web application vulnerabilities that allow for data manipulation and unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10909 primarily focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.0.24 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to prevent SQL injection attacks. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple layers, proper parameterized queries, and regular security audits of installed plugins and themes. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while web application firewalls can provide additional protection against known attack signatures. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected systems and ensure that all WordPress installations maintain current versions of core software, plugins, and themes. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure that security updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing website functionality, and regular security updates should be implemented as part of a comprehensive vulnerability management program to prevent similar issues in the future.