CVE-2024-5765 in WpStickyBar Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/30/2024
The WpStickyBar WordPress plugin through 2.1.0 does not properly sanitise and escape a parameter before using it in a SQL statement via an AJAX action available to unauthenticated users, leading to a SQL injection
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2025
The CVE-2024-5765 vulnerability affects the WpStickyBar WordPress plugin version 2.1.0 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that exposes the plugin to SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user-supplied input through an AJAX endpoint that lacks proper sanitization and escaping mechanisms. The flaw specifically manifests when the plugin processes a parameter within a SQL query structure, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database operations without authentication privileges. The vulnerability's severity stems from its accessibility to unauthenticated users, meaning that any visitor to a website running the affected plugin could potentially exploit this weakness. This exposure significantly broadens the attack surface and increases the likelihood of successful exploitation compared to vulnerabilities requiring authentication or administrative privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's AJAX handler functionality where user input is directly incorporated into SQL queries without appropriate validation or escaping procedures. This pattern violates fundamental security principles for database interactions and creates a direct path for malicious SQL commands to be executed within the target database environment. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic SQL injection vector where an attacker can manipulate the parameter value to inject malicious SQL syntax that alters the intended query execution. The lack of proper input sanitization means that special SQL characters and commands can be interpreted by the database engine rather than treated as literal values, potentially allowing for data extraction, modification, or deletion operations. This flaw aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities in software applications, and represents a failure in input validation and output encoding practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it enables attackers to potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the WordPress database. An attacker could extract user credentials, post content, configuration settings, or other valuable data that might be stored in the affected database tables. The unauthenticated nature of the exploit means that attackers do not need to establish any prior access to the system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for websites that rely on the plugin for sticky bar functionality. This vulnerability could also serve as a stepping stone for more advanced attacks, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or establish persistent access to the compromised website. The broader implications include potential data breaches, service disruption, and reputational damage for organizations relying on WordPress platforms that have not updated to patched versions of the plugin.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5765 should prioritize immediate remediation through updating the WpStickyBar plugin to a version that addresses the SQL injection vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including monitoring for suspicious AJAX requests and implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious SQL injection patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and parameterized queries in database interactions, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing database query logging and access controls to limit the potential damage from any successful exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins or custom code implementations, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar SQL injection threats that may exist within the broader WordPress ecosystem.