Header Footer Code Manager <= 1.1.13 - Authenticated SQL Injections
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 1.1.14
- Affected Plugin
- Header Footer Code Manager
- Affected Version
< 1.1.14- CVSS
- 7.2High
- Weakness type
- CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
- CVE
CVE-2021-24791
At a glance
CVE-2021-24791 is a high-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in the Header Footer Code Manager WordPress plugin, affecting versions < 1.1.14. It carries a CVSS score of 7.2 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires an authenticated account. The issue is fixed in version 1.1.14; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed October 2021, reported by bl4derunner.
Vulnerability Overview
The Header Footer Code Manager WordPress plugin before 1.1.14 does not validate and escape the "orderby" and "order" request parameters before using them in a SQL statement when viewing the Snippets admin dashboard, leading to SQL injections
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')
Header Footer Code Manager < 1.1.14 carries this weakness at orderby, and reaching it takes any authenticated account. 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 Header Footer Code Manager the fix is 1.1.14: builds < 1.1.14 are affected, anything from 1.1.14 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 1.1.14, or a newer patched version
How does WordSec protect against this?
The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to Header Footer Code Manager: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: Header Footer Code Manager 1.1.14 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Firewall
- Alerts
External References
Related records
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