CVE-2022-1013 in Personal Dictionary Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/09/2022
The Personal Dictionary WordPress plugin before 1.3.4 fails to properly sanitize user supplied POST data before it is being interpolated in an SQL statement and then executed, leading to a blind SQL injection vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1013 affects the Personal Dictionary WordPress plugin version 1.3.3 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that exposes systems to unauthorized data access and manipulation. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the plugin's codebase, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through SQL injection techniques. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user-supplied POST data, which is subsequently incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization measures.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin processes user input through POST requests and directly interpolates this data into SQL statements without adequate escaping or parameterization. This primitive approach to data handling creates a classic blind SQL injection vulnerability where attackers can manipulate database queries to extract sensitive information or execute arbitrary commands. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by remote attackers with minimal access requirements. The lack of proper input sanitization means that malicious payloads can be crafted to manipulate the SQL execution flow and potentially gain unauthorized access to the underlying database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can enable complete database compromise and potentially lead to full system takeover. Attackers can exploit the blind SQL injection to extract user credentials, personal information, and other sensitive data stored within the WordPress database. The vulnerability also allows for potential privilege escalation within the application, as successful exploitation can provide attackers with administrative capabilities. Additionally, the blind nature of the injection means that attackers must rely on indirect methods to determine successful exploitation, making detection more challenging for system administrators. This type of vulnerability can result in data breaches, service disruption, and reputational damage to organizations relying on affected WordPress installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1013 primarily focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 1.3.4 or later, which implements proper input sanitization and parameterization techniques. Organizations should also implement web application firewall rules to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns, particularly those targeting the plugin's specific endpoints. Input validation should be strengthened at multiple layers including application-level filtering, database query parameterization, and regular security audits of third-party plugins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploit development and T1071.3 for application layer attacks. System administrators should also consider implementing database activity monitoring and regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of their WordPress infrastructure. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the patch does not introduce regressions in plugin functionality while maintaining security integrity across all affected systems.