CVE-2024-13809 in Hero Slider Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2025
The Hero Slider - WordPress Slider Plugin plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via several parameters in all versions up to, and including, 1.3.5 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 access and above, 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 • 03/05/2025
The Hero Slider WordPress plugin presents a critical security vulnerability classified as CVE-2024-13809, affecting all versions through 1.3.5. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the plugin's database interaction mechanisms. The flaw manifests when authenticated users with subscriber-level privileges or higher attempt to manipulate specific parameters within the plugin's functionality, creating an avenue for malicious SQL injection attacks. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of weak input handling and inadequate query preparation, creating a persistent risk for WordPress installations that utilize this slider plugin.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's failure to properly escape user-supplied parameters before incorporating them into SQL queries. This weakness aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities resulting from inadequate input sanitization. The plugin's database operations lack proper parameterization or escaping mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code through carefully crafted input values. When legitimate users with subscriber access or higher submit requests containing malicious payloads, the plugin processes these inputs without sufficient validation, enabling the injection of additional SQL commands into existing database queries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data extraction, as authenticated attackers can leverage the SQL injection to perform various malicious activities within the database. Attackers with subscriber-level access can potentially extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, plugin configurations, and other database contents. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only minimal privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by users who should normally have restricted access to the WordPress administrative interface. This scenario creates a significant risk for WordPress sites where subscriber accounts might be compromised or where users have elevated privileges due to misconfigurations.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate mitigation of this vulnerability through plugin updates to versions that address the SQL injection flaw. The recommended remediation involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent user-supplied data from being interpreted as SQL commands. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as database query monitoring, access control reviews, and regular security audits to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date WordPress plugins and adhering to secure coding practices that prevent injection attacks, particularly in plugins that handle user input and database operations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential access, highlighting the multi-layered attack vectors that can emerge from such flaws.