SiteGround Security <= 1.3.0 - Authenticated (Administrator+) SQL Injection
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 1.3.1
- Affected Plugin
- Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin
- Affected Version
<= 1.3.0- CVSS
- 7.2High
- Weakness type
- CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
- CVE
CVE-2023-0234
At a glance
CVE-2023-0234 is a high-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in the Security Optimizer WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 1.3.0. 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 at Administrator level or above. The issue is fixed in version 1.3.1; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed January 2023, reported by So Sakaguchi.
Vulnerability Overview
The SiteGround Security plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to blind SQL Injection via some if its filtering and paging parameters in versions up to, and including, 1.3.0 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for administrator-level 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 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')
Reaching this weakness in Security Optimizer <= 1.3.0 takes an account at Administrator level or above. 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 Security Optimizer the fix is 1.3.1: builds <= 1.3.0 are affected, anything from 1.3.1 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 1.3.1, or a newer patched version
How does WordSec protect against this?
An attacker needs Administrator access first, so the firewall sees the attempt as traffic from a logged-in account: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: Security Optimizer 1.3.1 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Firewall
- Alerts
External References
Related records
Other vulnerabilities in Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin
- 9.8CVE-2022-0992: SiteGround Security <= 1.2.5 Authentication Bypass
CVE-2022-0992 - 8.1CVE-2022-0993: SiteGround Security Authorization Weakness
CVE-2022-0993 - 5.3CVE-2026-82228: Security Optimizer 2-Factor Authentication Bypass
CVE-2026-82228 - 5.3CVE-2026-13342: Security Optimizer IP Allowlist Bypass
CVE-2026-13342 - 5.3CVE-2025-66121: SiteGround Security <= 1.5.8 Missing Authorization
CVE-2025-66121 - 4.3CVE-2024-38774: Security Optimizer Missing Authorization
CVE-2024-38774
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