CVE-2024-4742 in Youzify Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/20/2024
The Youzify – BuddyPress Community, User Profile, Social Network & Membership Plugin for WordPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the order_by shortcode attribute in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.5 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 Contributor-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 • 07/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4742 affects the Youzify plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 1.2.5. This plugin serves as a comprehensive community management solution for WordPress sites utilizing BuddyPress functionality, providing features for user profiles, social networking capabilities, and membership management. The vulnerability manifests within the shortcode functionality, specifically in how the plugin processes the order_by parameter, creating a critical security gap that can be exploited by authenticated attackers.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and parameter preparation within the plugin's database query execution process. When the order_by shortcode attribute is processed, the plugin fails to properly escape or prepare the user-supplied parameter before incorporating it into existing SQL queries. This represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability pattern where attacker-controlled input directly influences the query structure without proper sanitization measures. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws in software applications.
Authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or higher can exploit this vulnerability to manipulate database queries through the order_by parameter. This access level provides sufficient privileges to utilize the shortcode functionality and execute malicious input. The exploitation allows attackers to append additional SQL operations to existing queries, potentially enabling them to extract sensitive information from the WordPress database. This includes user credentials, personal information, plugin configurations, and other database contents that may contain confidential data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exfiltration, as it provides attackers with a persistent means of accessing database resources. The vulnerability affects the core integrity of the WordPress installation, particularly when the Youzify plugin is actively used for community management functions. Attackers can leverage this weakness to escalate their access within the system, potentially leading to full administrative control of the WordPress site. The vulnerability also impacts the confidentiality and integrity aspects of the CIA triad, as unauthorized data access and potential data modification become possible.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-4742 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the SQL injection vulnerability. Administrators should implement the principle of least privilege by restricting Contributor-level access to only necessary users who require these permissions for legitimate site management tasks. Input validation and parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the plugin's codebase, with proper escaping mechanisms implemented for all user-supplied parameters. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous database query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security audits of WordPress plugins should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire site infrastructure. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, with potential progression to T1078 - Valid Accounts and T1005 - Data from Local System, highlighting the multi-stage nature of exploitation that can occur through such vulnerabilities.