A significant security vulnerability has been identified in the LayerSlider plugin for WordPress, posing a serious risk of unauthorized data exposure. This flaw, known as CVE-2024-2879, has been assigned a critical CVSS score of 9.8, indicating its severity. The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to leverage SQL injection techniques to potentially access sensitive information, including password hashes stored within the database.
This security issue affects versions 7.9.11 through 7.10.0 of LayerSlider, a widely used plugin for creating animations and rich digital content on WordPress sites. The maintainers released an update, version 7.10.1, on March 27, 2024, shortly after the vulnerability was disclosed on March 25, emphasizing the importance of the update for addressing security concerns.
The vulnerability arises from insufficient escaping of user-supplied parameters coupled with the lack of the wpdb::prepare() function usage, creating a pathway for attackers to execute additional SQL queries. While this might initially seem alarming, the structure of the SQL query does hedge the risk, limiting exploitation possibilities to a time-based methodology where the attacker would monitor response times of queries made to the database.
Moreover, this incident follows the uncovering of another serious vulnerability, specifically an unauthenticated stored cross-site scripting (XSS) issue in the WP-Members Membership Plugin (CVE-2024-1852), which could allow the execution of arbitrary JavaScript. This flaw, now patched in version 3.4.9.3, highlights the ongoing security challenges in WordPress plugins that could facilitate further exploitation if not addressed promptly.
The implications of such vulnerabilities are significant, particularly as they can lead to unauthorized access and control of a website, allowing for actions such as redirecting users to malicious sites or creating unauthorized administrative accounts. Attackers may employ various tactics classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, including initial access strategies through exploitation of web application vulnerabilities and subsequent techniques such as privilege escalation and persistence to maintain control over compromised systems.
In addition to LayerSlider and WP-Members, other WordPress plugins have similarly been found vulnerable, such as Tutor LMS (CVE-2024-1751) and Contact Form Entries (CVE-2024-2030), jeopardizing user data and allowing the injection of harmful scripts. These incidents underscore the necessity for regular updates and proactive security measures to protect against potential threats in the rapidly evolving landscape of cybersecurity.
For business owners, the ongoing reports of vulnerabilities within popular plugins serve as a cautionary reminder to remain vigilant and maintain rigorous cybersecurity protocols. Regular assessment of the security posture of web applications and timely implementation of updates can mitigate the risks associated with these vulnerabilities. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, staying informed and prepared is essential to safeguard sensitive information and maintain trust with users.
