CVE-2022-4230

WP Statistics <= 13.2.8 - Authenticated (Admin+) SQL Injection

2022-12-27 00:00
Jordy Versmissen

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 13.2.9
Affected Plugin
WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative
Affected Version
<= 13.2.8
CVSS
7.2High
Weakness type
CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
CVE
CVE-2022-4230
View all WP Statistics – Simple, privacy-friendly Google Analytics alternative vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2022-4230 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 <= 13.2.8. 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 Admin level or above. The issue is fixed in version 13.2.9; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed December 2022, reported by Jordy Versmissen.

Vulnerability Overview

The WP Statistics plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the $search_engine value in versions up to, and including, 13.2.8 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameter and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL query. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with administrative privileges 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 WP Statistics <= 13.2.8 takes an account at Admin 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 WP Statistics the fix is 13.2.9: builds <= 13.2.8 are affected, anything from 13.2.9 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 13.2.9, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

An attacker needs Admin 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: WP Statistics 13.2.9 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Firewall
  • Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-4230https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b6e4d8c3-f3ab-40f9-a8d2-77b53a8dba72https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-4230

Related records

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