CVE-2022-1556

StaffList <= 3.1.2 - Authenticated SQL Injection

2022-05-02 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 3.1.5
Affected Plugin: StaffList
Affected Version: <= 3.1.2
CVSS: 7.2High
Weakness type: CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
CVE: CVE-2022-1556

At a glance

CVE-2022-1556 is a high-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in the StaffList WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 3.1.2. 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 3.1.5; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed May 2022, reported by Hassan Khan Yusufzai - Splint3r7.

Vulnerability Overview

The StaffList WordPress plugin before 3.1.5 does not properly sanitise and escape a parameter before using it in a SQL statement when searching for Staff in the admin dashboard, leading to an SQL Injection

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 StaffList <= 3.1.2 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 StaffList the fix is 3.1.5: builds <= 3.1.2 are affected, anything from 3.1.5 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 3.1.5, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to StaffList: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: StaffList 3.1.5 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

Firewall
Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-1556 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/cde57dc8-9bfe-482c-8f04-654f4386e484 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-1556

Related records

Other vulnerabilities in StaffList

CVSS Vector

7.2

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

Base

Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredHigh
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh

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