The Askeet plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to SQL Injection via the 'sql_query' parameter in multiple AJAX actions (askeet_execute_sql_query, askeet_export_all_results) in all versions up to, and including, 3.0. This is due to the askeet_is_safe_query() filter being bypassable using MySQL conditional comments (e.g., /*!UNION*/). The filter strips regular block comments before checking for forbidden SQL keywords, but MySQL interprets conditional comments as executable code.
This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with Administrator-level access and above, to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database.
Attack Parameters
Attack Vector
Network
Can be exploited remotely
Attack Complexity
Low
Easy to exploit
Privileges Required
High
Admin privileges needed
User Interaction
None
No user interaction needed
Impact Assessment
Confidentiality
High
Complete data leak
Integrity
None
No data modification
Availability
None
No disruption
CVSS Vector v3.1
Weakness Type (CWE)
References 6
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/askeet/tags/2.5/askeet.php#L563
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/askeet/tags/2.5/askeet.php#L767
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/askeet/trunk/askeet.php#L767
security@wordfence.com
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?new=3525593%40askeet%2Ftrunk&old=3…
security@wordfence.com
https://wordpress.org/plugins/askeet/
security@wordfence.com
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b95af878-f324-44ae-a4…
security@wordfence.com