CVE-2017-6576 in Mail Masta Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
A SQL injection issue is exploitable, with WordPress admin access, in the Mail Masta (aka mail-masta) plugin 1.0 for WordPress. This affects ./inc/campaign/campaign-delete.php with the GET Parameter: id.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6576 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Mail Masta WordPress plugin version 1.0, specifically affecting the campaign-delete.php file through improper handling of the GET parameter 'id'. This vulnerability resides in the administrative interface of the plugin, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized database operations. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query structures. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL code through the id parameter, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data or administrative privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard SQL injection attack patterns where the attacker crafts malicious input that bypasses normal input validation procedures. When the campaign-delete.php script processes the id parameter without proper sanitization, it directly incorporates user input into database queries, creating opportunities for attackers to inject arbitrary SQL commands. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires only WordPress administrative access, suggesting that an attacker who has already compromised admin credentials could leverage this flaw to escalate privileges or extract sensitive information from the database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate campaign data, modify user accounts, or even execute arbitrary code on the affected WordPress installation. The vulnerability affects the administrative functionality of the Mail Masta plugin, which is commonly used for email marketing campaigns, meaning that attackers could potentially disrupt email communications or access confidential campaign data. This weakness creates a significant risk for organizations relying on WordPress for their web presence, particularly those using email marketing services where sensitive customer data might be stored. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making it attractive to threat actors and increasing the potential attack surface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6576 should focus on immediate patching of the Mail Masta plugin to version 1.1 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should also implement input validation measures including parameterized queries, proper escaping of user inputs, and regular security audits of WordPress plugins. Network segmentation and access control measures can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual database access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines, particularly addressing the prevention of injection flaws that represent one of the most common and dangerous categories of web application vulnerabilities.