Executive Summary

WP AutoSuggest version 0.24 has an SQL injection vulnerability. This means that attackers who are not authenticated can inject malicious SQL code through the wpas_keys parameter. By sending specially crafted GET requests to the autosuggest.php file with manipulated wpas_keys values, attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries on the database.

This allows them to extract sensitive information stored in the WordPress database, including data from posts and other tables.

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can have serious impacts because it allows unauthenticated attackers to access sensitive database information. They can extract confidential data from WordPress posts and other database tables, potentially leading to data breaches.

The CVSS score of 8.2 (v3.1) and 8.8 (v4.0) indicates a high severity, meaning the vulnerability is easy to exploit remotely without any privileges or user interaction, and it can result in a high impact on confidentiality.

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Compliance Impact

The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL queries and extract sensitive database information from WordPress posts and other tables. This exposure of sensitive data could lead to non-compliance with data protection regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA, which require the protection of personal and sensitive information from unauthorized access.

By enabling attackers to access sensitive information without authentication, the vulnerability increases the risk of data breaches, which can result in legal and regulatory consequences for organizations handling protected data.

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Detection Guidance

This vulnerability can be detected by monitoring for suspicious GET requests to the autosuggest.php file containing crafted or unusual values in the 'wpas_keys' parameter.

One practical approach is to use tools like sqlmap to test the vulnerability by sending specially crafted requests targeting the 'wpas_keys' parameter.

For example, a command using sqlmap might look like this:

• sqlmap -u "http://targetsite.com/wp-autosuggest/autosuggest.php?wpas_keys=test" --risk=3 --level=5 --dbs

Additionally, network monitoring tools or web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to alert on GET requests to autosuggest.php with suspicious 'wpas_keys' parameter values.

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Mitigation Strategies

Immediate mitigation steps include disabling or removing the WP AutoSuggest plugin version 0.24 from your WordPress installation, as it is vulnerable to SQL injection.

Since the plugin was removed from the WordPress Plugin Directory and no updates are available, it is recommended to replace it with a secure alternative or custom solution.

In addition, you should implement web application firewall (WAF) rules to block or monitor suspicious requests targeting autosuggest.php and the 'wpas_keys' parameter.

Regularly review and monitor your logs for any attempts to exploit this vulnerability.

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