CVE-2016-10942 in podlove-podcasting-plugin-for-wordpress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The podlove-podcasting-plugin-for-wordpress plugin before 2.3.16 for WordPress has SQL injection via the insert_id parameter exploitable via CSRF.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10942 affects the podlove-podcasting-plugin-for-wordpress WordPress plugin version 2.3.15 and earlier. This represents a critical security flaw that combines both SQL injection and cross-site request forgery exploitation vectors, creating a particularly dangerous attack surface for WordPress installations. The vulnerability resides in how the plugin handles the insert_id parameter within its data insertion functionality, which allows malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted requests.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin processes user-supplied input through the insert_id parameter without proper sanitization or validation. This parameter is typically used in database operations to identify specific records during insertion processes. When exploited via CSRF, attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate users with administrative privileges, thereby bypassing standard authentication checks. The combination of these two vulnerabilities creates a scenario where an attacker can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the WordPress database, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or corruption. Attackers could leverage this weakness to escalate privileges within the WordPress environment, modify podcast content, inject malicious code into podcast episodes, or even establish persistent backdoors within the hosting environment. The vulnerability affects not just individual podcast sites but entire WordPress installations that rely on this plugin, potentially compromising multiple sites within a single hosting environment. Given that podcasting plugins often handle sensitive metadata and user-generated content, the potential for data exfiltration or service disruption is significant.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to version 2.3.16 or later, which addresses the SQL injection vulnerability through proper input validation and sanitization. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. Regular security auditing of WordPress plugins and maintaining updated security practices should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future.