Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 3.5.3
- Affected Plugin
- Popup Like box – Page Plugin
- Affected Version
<= 3.5.2- CVSS
- 8.8High
- Weakness type
- CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
- CVE
CVE-2021-24460
At a glance
CVE-2021-24460 is a high-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in the Popup Like box WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 3.5.2. It carries a CVSS score of 8.8 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). The issue is fixed in version 3.5.3; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed June 2021, reported by To Quang Duong.
Vulnerability Overview
The get_fb_likeboxes() function in the Popup Like box – Page Plugin WordPress plugin before 3.5.3 did not use whitelist or validate the orderby parameter before using it in SQL statements passed to the get_results() DB calls, leading to SQL injection issues in the admin dashboard
Technical Analysis
The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability — full site compromise territory.
CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Popup Like box <= 3.5.2 carries this weakness at get_fb_likeboxes(), and reaching it takes a caller who can reach the endpoint. SQL injection happens when request data is concatenated into a query instead of being bound as a parameter, letting an attacker change the structure of the statement rather than just its values.
A working injection can read any table the database user can see, which on a WordPress install means user records, password hashes and session or API secrets stored in options. For Popup Like box the fix is 3.5.3: builds <= 3.5.2 are affected, anything from 3.5.3 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 3.5.3, or a newer patched version
How does WordSec protect against this?
The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to Popup Like box: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: Popup Like box 3.5.3 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Firewall
- Alerts
External References
Related records
Other vulnerabilities in Popup Like box – Page Plugin
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