CVE-2023-50841 in BookingPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/28/2023
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in Repute Infosystems BookingPress – Appointment Booking Calendar Plugin and Online Scheduling Plugin.This issue affects BookingPress – Appointment Booking Calendar Plugin and Online Scheduling Plugin: from n/a through 1.0.72.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the bookingpress plugin ecosystem that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through specially crafted input parameters. The weakness stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql commands, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary sql statements against the underlying database. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to 1.0.72 of the bookingpress appointment booking calendar and online scheduling plugin, making all earlier releases susceptible to exploitation. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category of CWE-89 sql injection, which is classified as a high severity issue in the owasp top ten web application security risks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when user input is directly concatenated into sql query strings without proper escaping or parameterization. Attackers can craft malicious inputs that alter the intended logic of sql commands, potentially allowing them to extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even gain administrative access to the affected system. The attack surface is particularly concerning as the plugin handles appointment bookings and scheduling data, which often contains personal identifiable information and business-critical data. This vulnerability can be leveraged to bypass authentication mechanisms, read confidential customer information, or manipulate booking records, making it a significant threat to organizations relying on the plugin for their scheduling operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise and data destruction. Organizations using affected plugin versions face potential exposure of customer booking data, personal information, and business records that could be exploited for financial gain or reputational damage. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web forms, api endpoints, or direct parameter manipulation in url requests. From an att&ck framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications, credential access, and data exfiltration. The attack can be executed with minimal technical expertise, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited by automated tools or less sophisticated threat actors.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to version 1.0.72 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the sql injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization measures, ensuring all user-supplied data is properly escaped before database insertion. The implementation of prepared statements and parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application code to prevent sql injection attacks. Additionally, network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection while patches are deployed. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual database access patterns or sql query executions that may indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins or components of the system. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions that can alert administrators to suspicious sql commands or unauthorized data access patterns.