CVE-2022-0785 in Daily Prayer Time Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/18/2022
The Daily Prayer Time WordPress plugin before 2022.03.01 does not sanitise and escape the month parameter before using it in a SQL statement via the get_monthly_timetable AJAX action (available to unauthenticated users), leading to an unauthenticated SQL injection
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0785 affects the Daily Prayer Time WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 2022.03.01, presenting a critical security risk through an unauthenticated SQL injection flaw. This issue arises from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the plugin's AJAX handling mechanism, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database without requiring authentication credentials.
The technical exploitation occurs through the get_monthly_timetable AJAX action which processes a month parameter without proper sanitization or escaping before incorporating it into SQL queries. This parameter manipulation allows attackers to inject malicious SQL code that can be executed within the database context, potentially enabling full database compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates through an unauthenticated endpoint, meaning any user can attempt exploitation without prior authentication, significantly broadening the attack surface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete database compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within affected systems. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and plugin configuration details. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that even organizations with proper access controls may be vulnerable if they have not updated to the patched version of the plugin.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89 which describes SQL injection flaws where insufficient sanitization of user-supplied data allows attackers to manipulate SQL queries. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting web application vulnerabilities. The flaw represents a classic input validation failure where data enters the system through an AJAX endpoint without proper security measures, creating an attack vector that can be easily exploited by automated tools.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to version 2022.03.01 or later, which implements proper parameter sanitization and escaping for the month parameter. Organizations should also implement web application firewall rules to monitor and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the affected AJAX endpoint. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary AJAX endpoints, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers, and conducting regular security audits of WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while access controls should be reviewed to ensure only authorized users can interact with plugin functionality.