CVE-2017-14845 in WPCHURCH Church Management System
Summary
by MITRE
Mojoomla WPCHURCH Church Management System for WordPress allows SQL Injection via the id parameter.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14845 affects the Mojoomla WPCHURCH Church Management System for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the system to unauthorized data access and potential system compromise. This issue specifically targets the WordPress plugin ecosystem where the vulnerability manifests through improper input validation mechanisms within the church management system's data handling processes. The affected software operates within the web application security domain where user-supplied parameters are not adequately sanitized before being processed by the underlying database engine, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors to execute unauthorized database operations.
The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of the id parameter within the WPCHURCH plugin's backend processing logic, where the system fails to implement proper input validation and sanitization measures before incorporating user-provided data into SQL query construction. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database engine. The flaw occurs when the application directly concatenates user-supplied input values into SQL statements without proper parameterization or escaping mechanisms, allowing attackers to manipulate the intended query structure and potentially execute arbitrary database commands. The vulnerability is classified as a classic blind SQL injection attack vector that can be exploited to extract sensitive information, modify database records, or even gain unauthorized administrative access to the WordPress installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform comprehensive database reconnaissance and potentially escalate privileges within the compromised WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract user credentials, membership information, financial records, and other sensitive church-related data that would typically be protected by proper access controls. The vulnerability affects the availability, integrity, and confidentiality aspects of the system's security posture, as unauthorized parties could potentially modify church records, delete critical information, or disrupt service availability. Furthermore, the exploitation of this vulnerability can serve as a foothold for more sophisticated attacks, including lateral movement within the network infrastructure where the WordPress installation resides, as demonstrated by ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts usage and T1190 which addresses exploitation of remote services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14845 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures to protect against similar vulnerabilities in the WordPress plugin ecosystem. The primary recommendation involves applying the vendor's official patch or upgrade to the WPCHURCH plugin to ensure proper input validation and parameterized query execution. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques including the use of prepared statements and parameterized queries to eliminate the possibility of SQL injection attacks. Additionally, network-based security controls such as web application firewalls should be configured to monitor and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the vulnerable id parameter. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or custom code within the WordPress environment. The implementation of principle of least privilege access controls and regular security audits will further reduce the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, aligning with security frameworks that emphasize defensive measures against common attack vectors like those described in the OWASP Top Ten project and NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines.