Duplicator <= 0.5.14 - SQL Injection

2015-04-10 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 0.5.16
Affected Plugin: Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More
Affected Version: <= 0.5.14
CVSS: 8.8High
Weakness type: CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
CVE: CVE pending

View all Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More vulnerabilities

At a glance

This record tracks a high-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in the Duplicator WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 0.5.14. It carries a CVSS score of 8.8 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 0.5.16; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed April 2015, reported by Claudio Viviani.

Vulnerability Overview

The Duplicator plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection in versions up to and including 0.5.14 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for 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. 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')

Reaching this weakness in Duplicator <= 0.5.14 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 Duplicator the fix is 0.5.16: builds <= 0.5.14 are affected, anything from 0.5.16 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 0.5.16, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to Duplicator: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: Duplicator 0.5.16 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

Firewall
Alerts

External References

https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/3762cd92-604a-4dac-a09e-6b4a08c4d804

Related records

Other vulnerabilities in Duplicator – Backups & Migration Plugin – Cloud Backups, Scheduled Backups, & More

CVSS Vector

8.8

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Base

Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredNone
User InteractionRequired
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh

This record contains material that is subject to copyright

Defiant hereby grants you a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, no-charge, royalty-free, irrevocable copyright license to reproduce, prepare derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, sublicense, and distribute this software vulnerability information. Any copy of the software vulnerability information you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you include a hyperlink to this vulnerability record and reproduce Defiant's copyright designation and this license in any such copy.

https://www.wordfence.com/wordfence-intelligence-terms-and-conditions/