CVE-2017-18614 in kama-clic-counter Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The kama-clic-counter plugin 3.4.9 for WordPress has SQL injection via the admin.php order parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2023
The kama-clic-counter plugin version 3.4.9 for WordPress contains a critical SQL injection vulnerability that affects the administrative interface through the order parameter in admin.php. This vulnerability represents a classic insecure input handling flaw that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through maliciously crafted input. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's administrative functionality where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL statements without proper sanitization or parameterization. The order parameter in the admin.php file serves as the attack vector, enabling malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that can be executed within the context of the database connection. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-89 SQL Injection as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration, which is a fundamental security flaw in web applications that occurs when user input is improperly validated or escaped before being included in database queries. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative context of WordPress, which typically has elevated privileges and access to sensitive data. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential information, modify database records, or potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying database system.
The operational impact of this SQL injection vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to perform complete database compromise operations through the WordPress administrative interface. When an authenticated administrator accesses the affected plugin functionality, the malicious SQL commands injected through the order parameter execute with the privileges of the database user account, potentially allowing for privilege escalation, data manipulation, and unauthorized access to other system resources. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and highlights the importance of implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements in database interactions. This weakness creates a pathway for attackers to exploit the administrative plugin functionality and gain unauthorized control over the WordPress installation's data layer. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 Valid Accounts, as it can be exploited by attackers who have already gained access to legitimate administrative credentials, and T1046 Network Service Scanning, as the exploitation process may involve reconnaissance of the vulnerable plugin's administrative endpoints. The exposure of this vulnerability in a widely used plugin like kama-clic-counter demonstrates the critical need for regular security audits and patch management across all WordPress components.
Mitigation strategies for this SQL injection vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of the kama-clic-counter plugin where the order parameter is properly sanitized or parameterized before database execution. Administrators should implement input validation that filters or escapes all user-supplied data, particularly within administrative interfaces where elevated privileges are granted. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should be mandatory for all database interactions, which directly prevents SQL injection by separating SQL code from data. Additionally, organizations should enforce the principle of least privilege by ensuring that database accounts used by WordPress have minimal required permissions and that administrative access is restricted to authorized personnel only. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual database access patterns and SQL query execution that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and adherence to WordPress security best practices including keeping all plugins and themes updated, implementing strong authentication measures, and conducting periodic security audits. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts targeting their WordPress installations, and establish comprehensive incident response procedures to quickly address any exploitation attempts.