CVE-2021-24199

wpDataTables (Premium) <= 3.4.1 - Blind SQL Injection via start Parameter

2021-03-16 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 3.4.2
Affected Plugin: wpDataTables (Premium)
Affected Version: < 3.4.2
CVSS: 6.5Medium
Weakness type: CWE-89 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
CVE: CVE-2021-24199

View all wpDataTables (Premium) vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2021-24199 is a medium-severity Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in the wpDataTables (Premium) WordPress plugin, affecting versions < 3.4.2. It carries a CVSS score of 6.5 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality impact). The issue is fixed in version 3.4.2; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed March 2021, reported by Veno Eivazian.

Vulnerability Overview

The wpDataTables – Tables & Table Charts premium WordPress plugin before 3.4.2 allows a low privilege authenticated user to perform Boolean-based blind SQL Injection in the table list page on the endpoint /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=get_wdtable&table_id=1, on the 'start' HTTP POST parameter. This allows an attacker to access all the data in the database and obtain access to the WordPress application. Please note that this only affects the premium version of the plugin which shares the same slug as the free version.

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.

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

wpDataTables (Premium) < 3.4.2 carries this weakness at start, and reaching it 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 wpDataTables (Premium) the fix is 3.4.2: builds < 3.4.2 are affected, anything from 3.4.2 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 3.4.2, or a newer patched version

How does WordSec protect against this?

The attempt arrives as an ordinary request to wpDataTables (Premium): WordSec's web application firewall inspects request payloads before WordPress loads them. None of that substitutes for the fix: wpDataTables (Premium) 3.4.2 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

Firewall
Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-24199 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/546bd215-61aa-48bd-915e-7ced0128f53d https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-24199

Related records

Same weakness class

Other vulnerabilities in wpDataTables (Premium)

CVSS Vector

6.5

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

Base

Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredLow
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityNone

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