CVE-2021-24151 in WP Editor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2024
The WP Editor WordPress plugin before 1.2.7 did not sanitise or validate its setting fields leading to an authenticated (admin+) blind SQL injection issue via an arbitrary parameter when making a request to save the settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-24151 affects the WP Editor WordPress plugin version 1.2.6 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress administrative functions. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the plugin's settings handling mechanism, creating a pathway for authenticated attackers with administrator privileges or higher to execute blind SQL injection attacks. The vulnerability specifically manifests when administrators interact with the plugin's settings save functionality, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into database queries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, and more specifically with CWE-94, addressing improper control of generation of code. The flaw occurs because the plugin's settings processing code directly incorporates user-provided input into SQL queries without adequate sanitization measures, allowing malicious actors to manipulate database operations through carefully crafted parameter values. This blind SQL injection vulnerability operates without direct output reflection, meaning attackers cannot immediately observe database responses, but can infer successful injection attempts through timing variations or conditional responses.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations as it requires only administrative-level access to exploit, which is typically limited to trusted users within the organization. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges, extract sensitive information from the database, modify content, or even establish persistent access through database-level backdoors. The authenticated nature of the exploit means that social engineering or credential compromise attacks could lead to successful exploitation, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is not adequately protected. The vulnerability affects not just the plugin's settings but could potentially provide attackers with access to all data stored within the WordPress database, including user credentials, posts, pages, and plugin configurations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-24151 focus primarily on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 1.2.7 or later, which implements proper input validation and sanitization measures. Organizations should also implement network segmentation to limit access to administrative functions, enforce multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and conduct regular security audits of installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing database query monitoring and logging can help detect potential exploitation attempts, while regular security training for administrators can reduce the risk of credential compromise. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190, exploiting vulnerabilities in remote services, and T1078, legitimate credentials, as it leverages administrative access to exploit the underlying SQL injection flaw. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar issues in other plugins or components of the WordPress ecosystem.