CVE-2021-24404 in WP-Board Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/20/2021
The options.php file of the WP-Board WordPress plugin through 1.1 beta accepts a postid parameter which is not sanitised, escaped or validated before inserting to a SQL statement, leading to SQL injection. This is a time based SQLI and in the same function vulnerable parameter is passed twice so if we pass time as 5 seconds it takes 10 seconds to return since the query ran twice.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-24404 affects the WP-Board WordPress plugin version 1.1 beta and earlier, presenting a critical SQL injection flaw within the options.php file. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices where the postid parameter is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper escaping or sanitization measures. The vulnerability manifests as a time-based SQL injection attack, which allows an attacker to infer database contents through response time variations, making it particularly insidious as it operates silently without immediate data exposure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of insufficient parameter validation where the postid parameter flows directly from user input to database execution without any sanitization. The flaw is particularly dangerous because the vulnerable parameter is passed twice within the same function, creating a compounded effect where the time-based delay is doubled. When an attacker injects a time-based payload with a 5-second delay, the response takes approximately 10 seconds to return, confirming the vulnerability and providing a reliable method for data extraction through timing attacks. This design flaw aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands as a direct code injection vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with a reliable method for database reconnaissance and potential system compromise. Time-based SQL injection attacks are particularly effective because they can bypass many traditional security controls and are difficult to detect through standard network monitoring. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, administrative access details, and other confidential data stored within the WordPress database. The vulnerability affects any system running the affected plugin version, making it a widespread concern for WordPress administrators and security teams responsible for multiple sites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-24404 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the SQL injection vulnerability, as the WP-Board plugin developers have likely released patches to resolve this issue. System administrators should implement proper input validation and sanitization measures, ensuring that all user-supplied parameters undergo rigorous validation before database interaction. The implementation of prepared statements and parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application code to prevent direct SQL command construction from user input. Additionally, network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for unusual response time patterns that may indicate time-based SQL injection attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls with SQL injection detection capabilities and conduct regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their WordPress installations, following ATT&CK framework guidance for defensive measures against SQL injection attacks.