CVE-2017-14848 in WPHRM Human Resource Management System
Summary
by MITRE
WPHRM Human Resource Management System for WordPress 1.0 allows SQL Injection via the employee_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14848 affects the WPHRM Human Resource Management System plugin for WordPress version 1.0, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the system to unauthorized data access and potential system compromise. This issue manifests through a SQL injection vulnerability within the employee_id parameter, which serves as an entry point for malicious actors to manipulate database queries and extract sensitive information from the underlying database infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the plugin's codebase, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL statements without proper escaping or parameterization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input for the employee_id parameter, which bypasses normal input validation checks and allows arbitrary SQL commands to be executed within the database context. This flaw aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as a critical weakness in software applications where user input is improperly handled in database queries. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, or deletion, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive employee information such as personal identification details, salary records, and other confidential human resources data. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it leverages the WordPress platform's widespread adoption and the plugin's integration with database operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass potential system disruption and business continuity risks for organizations utilizing the affected plugin. Attackers could exploit this weakness to escalate privileges within the database, potentially gaining access to administrative accounts or other sensitive systems connected to the same database infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in a human resources management system creates additional risk exposure as it may provide access to personally identifiable information and sensitive employee records, violating data protection regulations and potentially leading to compliance violations under frameworks such as gdpr and hipaa. This weakness also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which describes the use of application layer protocols for data exfiltration and command execution, as the SQL injection can be leveraged to extract data through database interactions.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the WPHRM plugin where the SQL injection vulnerability has been patched, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries within the application code, and conducting comprehensive security assessments of all WordPress plugins and themes. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls should be deployed to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts targeting the specific parameter. Regular security audits and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other components of the WordPress infrastructure. The remediation process should also include monitoring database logs for suspicious activity patterns and implementing proper access controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous SQL query patterns and alert security teams to potential injection attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and the necessity of following secure coding practices that prevent injection vulnerabilities in web applications.