CVE-2017-6096 in Mail Masta Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
A SQL injection issue was discovered in the Mail Masta (aka mail-masta) plugin 1.0 for WordPress. This affects /inc/lists/view-list.php (Requires authentication to Wordpress admin) with the GET Parameter: filter_list.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6096 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Mail Masta WordPress plugin version 1.0, specifically targeting the administrative interface. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization in the filter_list parameter of the /inc/lists/view-list.php file, which operates within the WordPress admin environment. The vulnerability requires authentication to access the administrative panel, meaning that an attacker must first compromise a valid administrative account or obtain sufficient privileges to exploit the flaw. The Mail Masta plugin, designed for email list management and newsletter functionality, inadvertently exposes this attack vector through its handling of user-supplied data in the administrative view-list functionality.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an authenticated administrator interacts with the filter_list parameter through GET requests in the WordPress admin interface. The plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into SQL queries, creating an opportunity for malicious SQL commands to be executed within the database context. This flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted data is directly included in SQL command strings without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of improper input handling where the application trust the user-supplied data without adequate sanitization, allowing attackers to manipulate database queries through crafted input sequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive email lists, user information, and administrative data stored within the WordPress database. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could execute arbitrary SQL commands, potentially leading to data manipulation, unauthorized access to user accounts, or even complete database compromise. The attack surface is limited to authenticated administrative users, but this restriction does not diminish the severity of the impact since administrative privileges typically provide broad access to sensitive system information. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage and privilege escalation, as exploitation requires administrative access but could lead to further system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the Mail Masta plugin to version 1.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the SQL injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms throughout their WordPress installations, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before database interaction. Network segmentation and privileged access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of compromised administrative accounts. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and themes, as this vulnerability type remains prevalent in WordPress ecosystems. The fix for this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper parameterized queries and input validation practices that align with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and other industry security standards.