CVE-2022-0254 in WordPress Zero Spam Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/14/2022
The WordPress Zero Spam WordPress plugin before 5.2.11 does not properly sanitise and escape the order and orderby parameters before using them in a SQL statement in the admin dashboard, leading to a SQL injection
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0254 affects the WordPress Zero Spam plugin version 5.2.10 and earlier, presenting a critical SQL injection risk within the administrative dashboard interface. This flaw resides in how the plugin handles user-supplied parameters during database queries, specifically targeting the order and orderby parameters that are commonly used in administrative data sorting operations. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize these parameters before incorporating them into SQL statements, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic SQL injection vector where the order and orderby parameters are directly concatenated into SQL query strings without adequate sanitization. When administrators access the plugin's administrative interface, these parameters are processed and used in database operations without proper escaping or validation, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code. This vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper input validation, as the plugin assumes all user input is trustworthy rather than treating it as potentially malicious.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it allows authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the WordPress database. This could enable full database compromise, data exfiltration, privilege escalation to other administrative users, or even database corruption. Attackers could potentially extract sensitive information including user credentials, configuration data, and other confidential information stored within the WordPress database. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only administrative access to exploit, making it a significant concern for WordPress installations where admin privileges may be compromised through other means such as credential theft or social engineering attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-0254 should prioritize immediate patching to version 5.2.11 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization fixes. Organizations should also implement network-level restrictions to limit administrative access to the WordPress dashboard, employ web application firewalls that can detect and block SQL injection attempts, and conduct thorough security audits of all installed plugins. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output escaping practices, such as using prepared statements and parameterized queries, would prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be maintained to identify and remediate similar issues across the entire WordPress ecosystem.