CVE-2022-0190 in Ad Invalid Click Protector Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2022
The Ad Invalid Click Protector (AICP) WordPress plugin before 1.2.6 is affected by a SQL Injection in the id parameter of the delete action.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2022
The Ad Invalid Click Protector WordPress plugin versions prior to 1.2.6 contain a critical SQL injection vulnerability that exposes the plugin to unauthorized database access. This vulnerability exists within the delete action functionality where the id parameter is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands through the id parameter, potentially enabling full database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper parameter handling within the plugin's backend processing logic.
This SQL injection vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. The attack vector occurs when an attacker submits a malicious id parameter value that gets directly concatenated into SQL query strings without proper sanitization or parameterization. The vulnerability can be exploited by authenticated users with sufficient privileges to access the delete functionality, though in some cases it may be exploitable by unauthenticated attackers depending on the plugin's access controls. The technical implementation lacks proper prepared statement usage or input filtering mechanisms that would prevent malicious SQL code from executing within the database context.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, potentially enabling complete system compromise through database manipulation. Attackers could extract sensitive user data, modify existing records, insert malicious entries, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the WordPress installation, as the database contains critical information including user credentials, plugin configurations, and potentially advertising data. Additionally, the compromise could facilitate further attacks on the broader web application infrastructure, as database access often provides pathways to other system components. The vulnerability's persistence means that once exploited, the attacker maintains access until the plugin is updated and the vulnerability is patched.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to version 1.2.6 or later, which contains the necessary security patches. Organizations should also implement input validation measures and ensure that all database queries utilize prepared statements or parameterized queries to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security audits should verify that no unauthorized modifications have occurred within the affected plugin's directory or database tables. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party software components and implementing robust security practices including principle of least privilege access controls and regular security assessments. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts targeting known vulnerable parameters.