CVE-2022-0434 in Page View Count Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/07/2022
The Page View Count WordPress plugin before 2.4.15 does not sanitise and escape the post_ids parameter before using it in a SQL statement via a REST endpoint, available to both unauthenticated and authenticated users. As a result, unauthenticated attackers could perform SQL injection attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2022
The CVE-2022-0434 vulnerability affects the Page View Count WordPress plugin version 2.4.14 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables unauthorized SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's REST API endpoint implementation where the post_ids parameter lacks proper sanitization and escaping mechanisms before being incorporated into SQL queries. The flaw impacts both unauthenticated and authenticated users, significantly broadening the attack surface and making it particularly dangerous for WordPress installations that rely on this plugin. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation practices within the plugin's codebase, specifically in how it processes user-supplied data for database operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the REST endpoint that handles page view count data retrieval. When the post_ids parameter is passed to the SQL statement, it bypasses WordPress's built-in sanitization functions and escaping mechanisms that normally protect against SQL injection attacks. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that can manipulate the database directly, potentially leading to data extraction, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications, and demonstrates poor input validation practices that violate secure coding principles. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary database commands without requiring authentication credentials, making the attack vector particularly severe.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0434 extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable complete database compromise and potentially lead to full system takeover. Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from the WordPress database, including user credentials, post content, and configuration settings. The vulnerability also permits attackers to modify existing records or insert malicious data into the database, potentially compromising the integrity of the entire WordPress installation. Given that many WordPress sites use this plugin for tracking page views, the attack surface is considerable, as the vulnerability affects not just individual sites but entire ecosystems that rely on this specific plugin version. This weakness can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage and T1190 for exploit public-facing application, demonstrating how attackers can leverage exposed APIs to gain unauthorized access.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately update to version 2.4.15 or later of the Page View Count plugin, which implements proper input sanitization and escaping mechanisms for the post_ids parameter. The recommended mitigation strategy includes implementing proper parameter validation and using prepared statements for all database queries, ensuring that user-supplied data cannot influence the SQL query structure. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security audits of their WordPress installations to identify any other plugins or themes that may exhibit similar vulnerabilities. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though they should not replace proper code-level fixes. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of regular security updates for all WordPress components to prevent exploitation of known weaknesses in third-party plugins.