CVE-2017-20245 in Wow Viral Signups
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2026
Wow Viral Signups 2.1 WordPress plugin contains an SQL injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to extract database information by exploiting the unescaped 'idsignup' POST parameter. Attackers can send crafted requests to the admin-ajax.php endpoint with malicious SQL payloads in the 'idsignup' parameter to read arbitrary data from the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2026
The Viral Signups WordPress plugin version 2.1 contains a critical SQL injection vulnerability that exposes sensitive database information to unauthenticated attackers. This vulnerability resides in the handling of the 'idsignup' POST parameter within the admin-ajax.php endpoint, which fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into database queries. The flaw represents a classic SQL injection weakness that allows attackers to manipulate database operations through maliciously crafted payloads. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require authentication, meaning any attacker can exploit it without prior access credentials. The affected parameter 'idsignup' is processed in a manner that directly concatenates user-supplied data into SQL statements, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious SQL commands that can extract, modify, or delete database records. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.1001 for data from information repositories, as attackers can directly access database contents without requiring elevated privileges. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable attackers to escalate their privileges within the WordPress environment, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects all WordPress installations using the Viral Signups plugin version 2.1 or earlier, making it a widespread concern for website administrators who have not updated their plugins. The exposure of database information through this vector creates significant risk for user privacy and system integrity, particularly if the database contains sensitive information such as user credentials, personal data, or business-critical records.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to send specifically crafted HTTP POST requests to the admin-ajax.php endpoint with malicious SQL payloads embedded within the 'idsignup' parameter. The lack of input validation and sanitization creates a direct path for attackers to manipulate the underlying database queries, potentially allowing them to extract user credentials, posts, configuration settings, or other sensitive information stored in the WordPress database. Attackers can leverage various SQL injection techniques such as union-based queries, error-based extraction, or time-based blind methods to gather information from the database. The vulnerability's exploitation is relatively straightforward since it does not require authentication and can be executed through automated tools that scan for common SQL injection patterns. The absence of proper parameter binding or input escaping mechanisms in the plugin's codebase means that attackers can bypass standard security controls and directly manipulate database operations. This vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices and represents a failure to implement proper database query sanitization, which are fundamental security requirements for web applications. The attack surface is particularly broad because the admin-ajax.php endpoint is commonly used for various WordPress functionalities and typically requires minimal authentication for basic operations.
Organizations using the Viral Signups plugin version 2.1 must immediately implement mitigations to protect their WordPress installations from potential exploitation. The primary and most effective mitigation is to update the plugin to the latest available version that contains patches for the SQL injection vulnerability. Security researchers and plugin developers should verify that any updates properly address the specific parameter handling issue within the 'idsignup' POST parameter. Additionally, administrators should implement web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious SQL injection patterns targeting the admin-ajax.php endpoint. Network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems can help identify suspicious traffic patterns associated with SQL injection attempts. Input validation should be strengthened at multiple levels including application code, database layer, and network perimeter controls. The implementation of proper parameterized queries or prepared statements should be enforced throughout the plugin codebase to prevent similar issues from occurring. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate other potential injection points within WordPress installations. Organizations should also consider implementing database access controls that limit the privileges of the database user account used by WordPress, reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation. Monitoring and logging of database activities should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts and data extraction activities. Security teams should also review and update their incident response procedures to ensure rapid detection and remediation of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping all WordPress plugins and themes updated, as outdated components represent one of the most common attack vectors for web applications. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and address similar vulnerabilities across the entire WordPress ecosystem.