CVE-2020-5651

Simple Download Monitor <= 3.8.8 - SQL Injection

2020-10-21 00:00
Gen Sato

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 3.8.9
Affected Plugin
Simple Download Monitor
Affected Version
<= 3.8.8
CVSS
8.8High
Weakness type
CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
CVE
CVE-2020-5651
View all Simple Download Monitor vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2020-5651 is a high-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in the Simple Download Monitor WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 3.8.8. 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 3.8.9; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed October 2020, reported by Gen Sato.

Vulnerability Overview

The Simple Download Monitor plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to generic SQL Injection in versions up to, and including, 3.8.8 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for attackers to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database if an authenticated user clicks on a malicious URL.

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 Simple Download Monitor <= 3.8.8 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 Simple Download Monitor the fix is 3.8.9: builds <= 3.8.8 are affected, anything from 3.8.9 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 3.8.9, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to Simple Download Monitor: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: Simple Download Monitor 3.8.9 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Firewall
  • Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-5651https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b2670e15-a71a-4800-882d-5d04faeaeee1https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5651

Related records

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