CVE-2023-5430 in Jquery News Ticker Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/31/2023
The Jquery news ticker plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the plugin's shortcode in versions up to, and including, 3.0 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 subscriber-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 • 04/11/2026
The CVE-2023-5430 vulnerability affects the jQuery news ticker plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions up to and including 3.0. This security flaw represents a critical SQL injection vulnerability that undermines the integrity of the WordPress database system. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the plugin's shortcode implementation, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors who possess subscriber-level privileges or higher. The flaw manifests when user-supplied parameters are not properly escaped before being incorporated into SQL queries, allowing attackers to manipulate the database through crafted input sequences.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of the plugin's shortcode functionality where attacker-controlled data flows directly into database queries without proper sanitization. This lack of input escaping combined with insufficient query preparation creates a scenario where malicious SQL code can be appended to existing database operations. The vulnerability specifically targets authenticated users who have subscriber permissions or greater, meaning that any individual with access to the WordPress site and basic user privileges can potentially exploit this weakness. The attack vector leverages the existing plugin functionality to inject additional SQL commands that can be executed within the context of the database connection, bypassing normal security controls.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to extract sensitive information from the WordPress database through the injected SQL queries. The compromised system could potentially expose user credentials, personal information, content data, and other confidential database records. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it requires only subscriber-level permissions to exploit, which represents a relatively low barrier to entry for malicious actors. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where user accounts are not properly secured or where unauthorized users might gain access to subscriber accounts through various means.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications. This classification indicates that the issue represents a fundamental weakness in input handling that allows arbitrary SQL commands to be executed. The attack pattern follows typical SQL injection methodologies where user input is directly incorporated into database queries without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access and data extraction through database manipulation. The exploitation process would likely involve crafting malicious shortcode parameters that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, result in unauthorized database access and information disclosure.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the SQL injection vulnerability, as provided by the plugin developers. Administrators should implement robust input validation and sanitization measures across all user-supplied data, ensuring that all parameters passed to database queries undergo proper escaping and preparation. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security audits should verify that all WordPress plugins and themes maintain current security patches and that proper access controls are enforced. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access ensures that users only maintain the minimum permissions necessary for their roles, reducing the potential impact of credential compromise. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the critical need for proper input validation in all database interactions within web applications.