CVE-2023-0630 in Slimstat Analytics Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2023
The Slimstat Analytics WordPress plugin before 4.9.3.3 does not prevent subscribers from rendering shortcodes that concatenates attributes directly into an SQL query.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0630 affects the Slimstat Analytics WordPress plugin version 4.9.3.2 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that exploits improper input validation mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode rendering functionality. This issue specifically targets the plugin's handling of user-provided attributes when processing shortcodes, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters. The vulnerability exists due to insufficient sanitization of shortcode attributes before they are incorporated into SQL query constructions, thereby exposing the underlying database to unauthorized access and manipulation attempts.
The technical implementation of this flaw allows authenticated users with subscriber-level privileges to exploit the plugin's shortcode processing logic by injecting malicious attribute values that get directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category known as "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command" and represents a classic SQL injection attack vector. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not require administrative privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any user who can create or modify content within the WordPress environment, including subscribers who typically have limited permissions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for WordPress sites using the affected Slimstat plugin version, as it allows for unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion operations against the database. Attackers could potentially extract sensitive information from the database, modify existing records, or even execute destructive operations depending on their level of access and the underlying database structure. The attack surface extends beyond simple data theft to include potential privilege escalation scenarios where malicious users could leverage this vulnerability to gain higher-level access within the WordPress environment, particularly if they can influence shortcode usage in contexts that allow for broader system interaction.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be automated through existing penetration testing tools, making it particularly dangerous in environments where subscriber accounts are not properly monitored or restricted. Security professionals should consider this issue in relation to the ATT&CK framework's technique T1078.004 which covers legitimate credentials, as compromised subscriber accounts could provide attackers with the necessary privileges to execute these malicious shortcodes. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version 4.9.3.3, reviewing and restricting shortcode usage permissions, and implementing database query logging to detect anomalous SQL patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for SQL injection patterns that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability across multiple systems within the organization's infrastructure.