CVE-2024-47350 in WooCommerce Ajax Search Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/06/2024
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in YITHEMES YITH WooCommerce Ajax Search yith-woocommerce-ajax-search.This issue affects YITH WooCommerce Ajax Search: from n/a through <= 2.8.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-47350 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the YITH WooCommerce Ajax Search plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions through 2.8.0. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category, which classifies SQL injection as a dangerous input validation flaw that occurs when an application fails to properly sanitize user inputs before incorporating them into SQL queries. The affected plugin is widely used in WooCommerce environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for e-commerce platforms that rely on WordPress infrastructure for their online stores.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin processes search queries from users without adequate sanitization of input parameters that are subsequently used in SQL command construction. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious search terms that contain SQL payload fragments designed to manipulate the database query execution. When the plugin processes these inputs, the unsanitized data gets directly embedded into SQL statements, allowing unauthorized users to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. This vulnerability specifically affects the search functionality of the plugin, where user-supplied text is not properly escaped or parameterized before being incorporated into database operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and potential system compromise. An attacker could extract sensitive information such as customer data, product catalogs, user credentials, and administrative access details from the compromised database. The vulnerability also poses risks for database manipulation, allowing attackers to modify or delete critical business data. Given that many WooCommerce stores handle sensitive financial and personal information, this vulnerability could lead to significant financial losses, regulatory violations, and reputational damage for affected businesses. The attack vector is particularly insidious because it leverages legitimate search functionality, making it harder to detect and prevent through traditional security measures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the SQL injection flaw, as the vendor has likely released patches to resolve the issue. Organizations should implement input validation and parameterized queries as defensive measures, ensuring that all user inputs are properly sanitized before database interaction. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block malicious search queries. Security monitoring should focus on identifying unusual database access patterns and unauthorized data retrieval attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1046 for network service scanning, as attackers may attempt to probe the system for vulnerable components. Regular security audits and penetration testing of e-commerce platforms are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes that could serve as attack vectors for similar exploitation techniques.