CVE-2022-2840 in Zephyr Project Manager
Summary
by MITRE • 09/19/2022
The Zephyr Project Manager WordPress plugin before 3.2.5 does not sanitise and escape various parameters before using them in SQL statements via various AJAX actions available to both unauthenticated and authenticated users, leading to SQL injections
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2840 affects the Zephyr Project Manager WordPress plugin version 3.2.4 and earlier, presenting a critical SQL injection risk that impacts both unauthenticated and authenticated users. This flaw resides within the plugin's handling of parameters passed through AJAX actions, which are designed to facilitate dynamic content updates without full page reloads. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that manipulate the parameters used in SQL operations, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within the WordPress database.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection flaws as weaknesses that occur when user input is improperly filtered or escaped before being included in database queries. The affected plugin exposes multiple AJAX endpoints that accept user parameters without adequate sanitization, creating multiple attack vectors for potential exploitation. These endpoints are accessible to both anonymous users and authenticated users with varying privilege levels, significantly expanding the potential attack surface. The lack of proper escaping mechanisms means that malicious input can directly manipulate the SQL syntax, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary database commands and potentially extract, modify, or delete sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to escalate privileges, modify user accounts, or even compromise the entire WordPress installation. The vulnerability's accessibility to unauthenticated users makes it particularly dangerous, as it lowers the barrier to entry for potential attackers who may not require prior access credentials to exploit the flaw. Database administrators and security teams face significant challenges in detecting such attacks, as the malicious SQL queries may appear legitimate within the application logs, making forensic analysis more complex. The vulnerability also impacts the integrity and confidentiality of project management data that organizations rely on for critical business operations, potentially exposing sensitive project information, user credentials, or business-critical data.
Organizations should immediately update to version 3.2.5 or later of the Zephyr Project Manager plugin to remediate this vulnerability, as no effective workarounds exist for this particular flaw. Security measures should include implementing proper input validation and sanitization practices, particularly for parameters used in database operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for SQL injection attacks. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious database query patterns, while database access controls should be reviewed to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and regular security audits can help identify and prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of the WordPress ecosystem.