SQL Injection in Taskbuilder WordPress Plugin

Executive Summary

The Taskbuilder – Project Management & Task Management Tool With Kanban Board plugin for WordPress has a generic SQL Injection vulnerability in the 'task_search' parameter in all versions up to and including 5.0.8.

This vulnerability exists because the plugin does not properly escape user-supplied input and does not sufficiently prepare the existing SQL query.

As a result, authenticated users with subscriber-level access or higher can append additional SQL queries to extract sensitive information from the database.

Additionally, the AJAX handler 'wppm_get_task_list' does not perform capability checks or nonce verification, allowing any authenticated user, including subscribers, to invoke it directly.

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Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can allow an authenticated user with minimal privileges (subscriber-level) to perform unauthorized SQL queries on the database.

Such unauthorized queries can lead to the extraction of sensitive information stored in the database.

Because the vulnerability does not affect integrity or availability, but impacts confidentiality, it can result in data breaches or exposure of confidential data.

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Detection Guidance

This vulnerability involves SQL Injection via the 'task_search' parameter in the Taskbuilder WordPress plugin. Detection would involve monitoring for unusual or suspicious SQL queries or attempts to exploit the 'task_search' parameter, especially from authenticated users with subscriber-level access or higher.

Since the wppm_get_task_list AJAX handler performs no capability check or nonce verification, detection can include reviewing AJAX requests to this handler for unexpected or malicious input.

Specific commands are not provided in the available information.

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Mitigation Strategies

Immediate mitigation steps include restricting access to the Taskbuilder plugin, especially the AJAX handler 'wppm_get_task_list', to trusted users only.

Ensure that users with subscriber-level access or higher are trusted, or temporarily disable the plugin until a patch is available.

Applying any available updates or patches to the plugin that address this SQL Injection vulnerability is recommended once released.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability allows authenticated users with subscriber-level access to perform SQL Injection attacks that can extract sensitive information from the database.

Such unauthorized access to sensitive data can lead to violations of data protection regulations like GDPR and HIPAA, which require strict controls to prevent unauthorized data disclosure.

Therefore, exploitation of this vulnerability could compromise compliance with these common standards and regulations by exposing protected personal or health information.

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