Collapsing Categories <= 3.0.8 - Unauthenticated SQL Injection
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 3.0.9
- Affected Plugin
- Collapsing Categories
- Affected Version
<= 3.0.8- CVSS
- 7.5High
- Weakness type
- CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
- CVE
CVE-2024-12025
At a glance
CVE-2024-12025 is a high-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in the Collapsing Categories WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 3.0.8. It carries a CVSS score of 7.5 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 3.0.9; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed December 2024, reported by mikemyers.
Vulnerability Overview
The Collapsing Categories plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the 'taxonomy' parameter of the /wp-json/collapsing-categories/v1/get REST API in all versions up to, and including, 3.0.8 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database.
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 privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality.
CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Collapsing Categories <= 3.0.8 carries this weakness at taxonomy, and reaching it takes no account at all. 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 Collapsing Categories the fix is 3.0.9: builds <= 3.0.8 are affected, anything from 3.0.9 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 3.0.9, or a newer patched version
How does WordSec protect against this?
Requests carrying this pattern arrive without a session, so nothing upstream of the firewall gets a chance to reject them: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: Collapsing Categories 3.0.9 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Firewall
- Login Security
- Alerts
External References
Related records
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