CVE-2022-0788 in WP Fundraising Donation and Crowdfunding Platform Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/08/2022
The WP Fundraising Donation and Crowdfunding Platform WordPress plugin through 1.4.2 does not sanitise and escape a parameter before using it in a SQL statement via one of it's REST route, leading to an SQL injection exploitable by unauthenticated users
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2024
The WP Fundraising Donation and Crowdfunding Platform WordPress plugin version 1.4.2 contains a critical SQL injection vulnerability that affects unauthenticated users. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's REST API endpoints where user input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being incorporated into database queries. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the SQL statements executed by the WordPress application through crafted requests to the plugin's REST routes. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require any authentication credentials to exploit, making it accessible to anyone who can interact with the WordPress site.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the plugin's REST API handling code. When the plugin processes requests through its REST endpoints, it accepts parameters from HTTP requests and directly incorporates them into SQL queries without adequate sanitization or escaping mechanisms. This represents a classic SQL injection flaw that falls under CWE-89, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The vulnerability is further exacerbated by the fact that the plugin does not implement any input validation or output escaping measures that would normally protect against such attacks, creating an attack surface where malicious SQL commands can be injected and executed with the privileges of the database user account.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching for WordPress sites utilizing the affected plugin. Unauthenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands against the database, potentially leading to data exfiltration, data manipulation, or complete database compromise. Attackers could extract sensitive information including user credentials, donation records, personal donor information, and other confidential data stored within the WordPress database. The vulnerability also allows for potential privilege escalation within the database context, enabling attackers to gain elevated access rights. Additionally, the attack could result in database corruption, service disruption, or even complete system compromise if the database user has sufficient privileges to execute system-level commands.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate action including updating to the latest plugin version where the SQL injection flaw has been patched. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms throughout their WordPress installations to prevent similar issues from occurring. The use of web application firewalls and database query monitoring tools can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure proper sanitization of all user inputs. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, and T1071.005 - Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it exploits a public-facing WordPress REST API endpoint. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be implemented to identify and remediate such vulnerabilities before they can be exploited in real-world scenarios. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized database access attempts and SQL injection activities.