CVE-2021-24340

WP Statistics <= 13.0.7 - Unauthenticated SQL Injection

2021-05-19 00:00
Ram

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 13.0.8
Affected Plugin
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative
Affected Version
< 13.0.8
CVSS
7.5High
Weakness type
CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
CVE
CVE-2021-24340
View all WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2021-24340 is a high-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in the WP Statistics WordPress plugin, affecting versions < 13.0.8. It carries a CVSS score of 7.5 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 13.0.8; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed May 2021, reported by Ram.

Vulnerability Overview

The WP Statistics WordPress plugin before 13.0.8 relied on using the WordPress esc_sql() function on a field not delimited by quotes and did not first prepare the query. Additionally, the page, which should have been accessible to administrator only, was also available to any visitor, including unauthenticated ones.

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, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality.

CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')

WP Statistics < 13.0.8 carries this weakness at esc_sql(), and reaching it takes no account at all. 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 WP Statistics the fix is 13.0.8: builds < 13.0.8 are affected, anything from 13.0.8 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 13.0.8, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

Requests carrying this pattern arrive without a session, so nothing upstream of the firewall gets a chance to reject them: WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: WP Statistics 13.0.8 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Firewall
  • Login Security
  • Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-24340https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/6f561cce-1c0c-40f5-abba-ada8bc503aa8https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-24340

Related records

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