Authenticated SQL injection via unescaped search_engine parameter
Published Jan 23, 2023 · Updated Apr 2, 2025
SQL injection in WP Statistics before 13.2.9 allows remote authenticated users to manipulate database queries through its metabox REST endpoint. The metabox handler passes the search_engine query parameter into a database query without escaping or prepared-query binding, enabling injected SQL such as a time-delay expression. The attack requires a valid nonce from an account permitted to view statistics; successful requests can alter query logic and expose database contents.
Summary
What happened
SQL injection in WP Statistics before 13.2.9 allows remote authenticated users to manipulate database queries through its metabox REST endpoint. The metabox handler passes the search_engine query parameter into a database query without escaping or prepared-query binding, enabling injected SQL such as a time-delay expression. The attack requires a valid nonce from an account permitted to view statistics; successful requests can alter query logic and expose database contents.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-4230
- Published
- Jan 23, 2023
- Updated
- Apr 2, 2025
- Vendor
- VeronaLabs
- Product
- WP Statistics
- Classifications
- CWE-89, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 23, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 2, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=0 <13.2.9
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Authenticated time-based SQL injection proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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