WP Private Messages <= 1.0.1 - Authenticated SQL Injection
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Unpatched
- Affected Plugin
- WP Private Messages
- Affected Version
<= 1.0.1- CVSS
- 6.3Medium
- Weakness type
- CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
- CVE
CVE pending
At a glance
This record tracks a medium-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in the WP Private Messages WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 1.0.1. It carries a CVSS score of 6.3 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). Exploitation requires an authenticated account. No fixed release has been reported yet; treat installations running this software as exposed. Disclosed December 2016, reported by Lenon Leite.
Vulnerability Overview
The WP Private Messages plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the ‘id’ parameter in versions up to, and including, 1.0.1 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for authenticated 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.
CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Reaching this weakness in WP Private Messages <= 1.0.1 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. No fixed build of this plugin is recorded for WP Private Messages yet, so installs running <= 1.0.1 stay exposed until the vendor ships one.
Remediation
No known patch available. Please review the vulnerability's details in depth and employ mitigations based on your organization's risk tolerance. It may be best to uninstall the affected software and find a replacement.
How does WordSec protect against this?
The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to WP Private Messages: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. No patched version is recorded yet, which is the case where a filtering layer matters most, because there is nothing to update to.
- Firewall
- Alerts
External References
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