CVE-2023-4598 in Slimstat Analytics Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
The Slimstat Analytics plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the plugin's shortcode in versions up to, and including, 5.0.9 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with contributor-level and above permissions to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2026
The Slimstat Analytics plugin for WordPress represents a widely used tool for tracking website analytics and user behavior, making it a critical component in many WordPress installations. This particular vulnerability affects versions up to and including 5.0.9, where the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input within its shortcode functionality. The vulnerability stems from inadequate escaping mechanisms and insufficient query preparation techniques that allow malicious actors to manipulate the database through crafted input parameters. Security researchers have identified this issue as a significant risk to WordPress environments that rely on the Slimstat plugin for analytics collection and reporting purposes.
The technical flaw manifests specifically within the plugin's shortcode implementation where user-provided parameters are directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameter binding. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-89, which identifies SQL injection flaws as critical security weaknesses that enable attackers to execute unauthorized database commands. The flaw allows authenticated attackers who possess contributor-level permissions or higher to manipulate existing SQL queries through the shortcode functionality, effectively appending malicious SQL statements to legitimate database operations. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1078.004, which covers legitimate credentials for privilege escalation and lateral movement within compromised systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data extraction, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform various malicious database operations including data retrieval, modification, or deletion. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level access can exploit this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from the WordPress database, potentially including user credentials, personal information, and other confidential data stored within the application's database structure. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only relatively low-level permissions, making it accessible to users who have been granted basic content management privileges within the WordPress environment. This vulnerability undermines the principle of least privilege and creates potential pathways for more extensive compromise of the WordPress installation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the Slimstat Analytics plugin to version 5.1.0 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes to address the SQL injection vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional security measures including monitoring for unusual shortcode usage patterns, restricting contributor-level permissions where possible, and implementing proper input validation for all user-supplied parameters within WordPress plugins. Organizations should conduct comprehensive security audits of their WordPress installations to identify any other potentially vulnerable plugins or themes that may exhibit similar security flaws. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and parameterized queries as fundamental security practices that should be implemented across all database interactions within web applications. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts targeting SQL injection vulnerabilities in WordPress environments.