CVE-2024-9879 in Melapress File Monitor Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/16/2025
The Melapress File Monitor WordPress plugin before 2.1.1 does not sanitize and escape a parameter before using it in a SQL statement, allowing admins to perform SQL injection attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2025
The Melapress File Monitor WordPress plugin version 2.1.0 and earlier contains a critical SQL injection vulnerability that stems from insufficient input sanitization and escaping mechanisms within its codebase. This flaw exists in the plugin's handling of user-supplied parameters that are directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper validation or encoding. The vulnerability specifically affects administrators who interact with the plugin's functionality, as it requires administrative privileges to exploit effectively, though the impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially compromise entire database systems. The issue represents a classic sql injection weakness that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input manipulation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes a parameter that should be treated as user input and incorporates it directly into SQL statement construction without appropriate sanitization measures. This pattern creates an environment where malicious actors can inject arbitrary SQL code into the database layer through carefully crafted input that bypasses standard security controls. The lack of parameterized queries or proper input escaping mechanisms means that any special characters or SQL metacharacters provided by an authenticated administrator can be interpreted by the database engine as part of the SQL command rather than as literal data. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89 which categorizes improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers valid accounts with administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or manipulation to potentially allow full database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within WordPress installations. An attacker with administrative access to the WordPress site can leverage this vulnerability to extract all database contents including user credentials, configuration settings, and other sensitive data. The vulnerability also enables potential data modification or deletion operations that could severely impact the availability and integrity of the affected systems. Additionally, the compromised database could serve as a foothold for further lateral movement within the network infrastructure, particularly if the WordPress installation shares database credentials with other applications or services. Organizations running vulnerable versions of this plugin face significant risk of data breaches and system compromise that could result in regulatory compliance violations and substantial financial losses.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrade to version 2.1.1 or later of the Melapress File Monitor plugin, which includes proper input sanitization and escaping mechanisms to prevent SQL injection attacks. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unusual database activity, and maintaining up-to-date security patches across all WordPress components. Network-level protections including database firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual SQL query patterns or database access attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls and regular privilege reviews to minimize the potential impact of compromised administrative accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and proper SQL query construction practices in web application development, aligning with industry best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.