CVE-2023-5000 in Horizontal Scrolling Announcements Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2024
The Horizontal scrolling announcements plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the plugin's 'hsas-shortcode' shortcode in versions up to, and including, 2.4 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 • 06/03/2026
The horizontal scrolling announcements plugin for wordpress represents a common category of vulnerabilities that exploits insufficient input validation and sanitization in web applications. this particular weakness manifests within the plugin's hsas-shortcode shortcode functionality, where the software fails to properly escape user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into database queries. the vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.4, indicating a prolonged period during which the security flaw remained unaddressed. the root cause lies in the plugin's inadequate preparation of sql queries, which creates an environment where malicious input can be seamlessly integrated into existing database operations without proper sanitization measures.
the technical exploitation of this sql injection vulnerability requires authenticated access with contributor-level permissions or higher, which significantly impacts the attack surface analysis. however, this privilege level represents a realistic threat vector in many wordpress environments where contributors may have legitimate access to plugin settings and content management features. the vulnerability operates through the injection of malicious sql payloads into the shortcode parameter, allowing attackers to manipulate existing queries rather than constructing entirely new ones. this approach reduces the complexity of exploitation while maintaining the effectiveness of the attack vector. the lack of proper escaping mechanisms means that sql reserved words, characters, and syntax can be interpreted by the database engine as part of the intended query structure rather than as user input.
the operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data extraction to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks within the compromised wordpress environment. authenticated attackers can leverage the sql injection to access sensitive information stored in the database including user credentials, plugin configurations, and potentially other wordpress system data. the vulnerability's design allows for the concatenation of additional sql queries to existing ones, creating opportunities for union-based attacks, blind sql injection techniques, and data exfiltration operations. this capability significantly increases the risk to wordpress installations that rely on the horizontal scrolling announcements plugin, particularly in environments where contributor accounts may be compromised or where privilege escalation opportunities exist.
the vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as cwe-89 sql injection, which specifically addresses the improper handling of sql query construction. from an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques described in the attack technique framework under the category of code injection attacks. the exploitation process demonstrates characteristics of both direct and indirect sql injection methods where the attacker leverages existing query structures rather than creating entirely new ones. mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input sanitization, parameterized queries, and input validation measures. the most effective remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of the plugin, implementing proper escaping mechanisms, and ensuring that all user-supplied parameters undergo rigorous validation before database processing. additionally, network segmentation, access control restrictions, and regular security audits should be implemented to reduce the overall risk exposure of wordpress installations containing vulnerable plugins.