CVE-2024-12276 in Ultimate Member Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2025
The Ultimate Member – User Profile, Registration, Login, Member Directory, Content Restriction & Membership Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to second-order SQL Injection via filenames in all versions up to, and including, 2.9.2 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 access to upload files and manage filenames through a third-party plugin like a File Manager, to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database. The risk of this vulnerability is very minimal as it requires a user to be able to manipulate filenames in order to successfully exploit.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2025
The CVE-2024-12276 vulnerability affects the Ultimate Member WordPress plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.9.2. This security flaw represents a second-order SQL injection vulnerability that exploits insufficient input sanitization within the plugin's file handling mechanisms. The vulnerability occurs when user-supplied filenames are processed without adequate escaping, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject additional SQL commands into existing database queries. The issue is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate file management capabilities that many WordPress installations already utilize through third-party plugins, making the attack vector more accessible than typical SQL injection scenarios.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an authenticated attacker who possesses the ability to upload files and manipulate filenames through external file management tools. This prerequisite significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely, as many WordPress environments already provide file management capabilities that could be leveraged by malicious actors. The second-order nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious SQL code is not executed immediately upon input but rather becomes embedded within the database and executes later when the system processes existing queries that incorporate these manipulated filenames. This timing aspect makes detection more challenging and the vulnerability more insidious in its potential impact.
From a security impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to extract sensitive information from the WordPress database through carefully crafted SQL injection payloads. The attacker can potentially access user credentials, personal information, and other database contents that may be stored within the WordPress installation. The risk assessment indicates a minimal threat level primarily due to the specific prerequisites required for successful exploitation, including both authentication access and the ability to manipulate file names through third-party tools. However, the potential for data exfiltration remains significant, particularly in environments where user data is sensitive or where the compromised system contains additional vulnerabilities that could be exploited in conjunction with this SQL injection flaw.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to the latest version of the Ultimate Member plugin where the vulnerability has been addressed. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and may also map to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for social engineering that could lead to credential compromise. Administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as restricting file upload capabilities, monitoring file management activities, and implementing database query monitoring to detect anomalous SQL execution patterns. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and parameterized queries in all database interactions, particularly within WordPress plugins that handle user-supplied data. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should include checks for similar second-order injection vulnerabilities that may exist in other plugins or custom code implementations.