CVE-2022-1556 in StaffList Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/30/2022
The StaffList WordPress plugin before 3.1.5 does not properly sanitise and escape a parameter before using it in a SQL statement when searching for Staff in the admin dashboard, leading to an SQL Injection
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1556 affects the StaffList WordPress plugin version 3.1.4 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through improper input validation and sanitization practices. This flaw exists within the plugin's admin dashboard functionality where staff search operations are performed, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the plugin processes search requests for staff members, failing to adequately sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL execution contexts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to employ proper parameterized queries or adequate input sanitization mechanisms when handling search parameters. The affected code path processes user input directly within SQL statement construction without appropriate escaping or validation, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL fragments that can alter the intended query behavior. This represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability where the attacker can manipulate the database query structure to extract unauthorized information, modify data, or potentially execute arbitrary commands depending on the database system configuration and privileges.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected plugin version. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to staff directory information, potentially accessing sensitive employee data including personal contact details, roles, and other administrative information. The vulnerability affects the plugin's admin dashboard functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to compromise the administrative interface and potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as the attacker could potentially leverage this access to perform further malicious activities within the compromised system.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices that should be implemented to prevent such attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, where attackers target web applications for initial access and privilege escalation. Organizations using the StaffList plugin in their WordPress installations face a high risk of compromise, particularly if they have administrative access points that remain unpatched. The vulnerability also relates to T1071.004 - Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers may use this access to further explore network infrastructure and potentially establish persistence mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the StaffList plugin to version 3.1.5 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization and escaping mechanisms to prevent the SQL injection attack vector. Administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unusual database access patterns, and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection attempts. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls should be enforced to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other installed components.