CVE-2024-50465 in Premium SEO Pack Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2024
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in WP SEO – Calin Vingan Premium SEO Pack allows SQL Injection.This issue affects Premium SEO Pack: from n/a through 1.6.001.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/31/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-50465 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the WP SEO – Calin Vingan Premium SEO Pack plugin for WordPress systems. This weakness stems from improper neutralization of special elements within SQL commands, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of the Premium SEO Pack plugin ranging from the initial release through version 1.6.001, indicating a broad affected scope that encompasses multiple iterations of the software. The flaw resides in how the plugin processes user input within SQL query constructions, failing to adequately sanitize or escape potentially malicious characters that could alter the intended query structure. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a serious weakness in software applications that handle database interactions. The issue directly aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1071.004 which describes application layer protocol manipulation, specifically targeting database communication channels through injection attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it enables attackers to potentially gain complete control over the affected WordPress database. An attacker could leverage this weakness to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and administrative access details stored within the database. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WordPress remains one of the most widely deployed content management systems globally, making this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking to compromise large numbers of websites. The SQL injection vulnerability could allow for privilege escalation, enabling attackers to manipulate database permissions or even execute arbitrary code on the server if proper database security measures are not in place. This type of attack vector particularly threatens websites that rely heavily on database-driven content management and user interaction features that the SEO plugin facilitates.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-50465 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released patches containing proper input sanitization and parameterized query implementations. Organizations should implement comprehensive database access controls and monitoring systems to detect unusual query patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and firewall rules can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation by restricting database access to only necessary applications and administrative interfaces. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their WordPress installations to identify any other plugins or components that might be susceptible to similar injection attacks. The remediation process should include disabling the vulnerable plugin until a secure version is installed, followed by comprehensive testing to ensure that the updated version does not introduce compatibility issues with existing website functionality. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring solutions can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts.