CVE-2020-35012 in Events Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/02/2021
The Events Manager WordPress plugin before 5.9.8 does not sanitise and escape a parameter before using it in a SQL statement, leading to an SQL Injection
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/09/2024
The Events Manager WordPress plugin version 5.9.8 and earlier contains a critical SQL injection vulnerability that arises from insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied parameters before their incorporation into database queries. This flaw exists within the plugin's handling of input data that is directly used in SQL statement construction without proper validation or encoding measures. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's ability to process parameters that are passed through HTTP requests and subsequently integrated into database operations without adequate security controls.
This security weakness creates a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries by injecting arbitrary SQL code through carefully crafted input parameters. The vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-89 SQL Injection as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which identifies improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands as a fundamental flaw in database interaction code. The lack of parameter sanitization means that attackers can potentially execute unauthorized database operations, including data extraction, modification, or deletion, depending on the privileges of the affected database user account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive event management data including user information, event details, and potentially system configuration data. The vulnerability affects WordPress installations where the Events Manager plugin is active, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of this popular plugin for event management. Attackers exploiting this weakness could potentially escalate privileges within the database, extract confidential information, or even gain complete control over the affected WordPress installation through database-level attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrade to Events Manager plugin version 5.9.8 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the SQL injection flaw. System administrators should also implement proper input validation measures, including the use of prepared statements and parameterized queries to prevent similar issues in other components of the WordPress installation. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers may use DNS-based techniques to probe for vulnerable systems, and T1566.001 Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as the vulnerability could be exploited through malicious attachments or links targeting WordPress administrators. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools to identify and remediate similar issues across their web applications.