Vulnerabilities > CVE-2017-16510 - SQL Injection vulnerability in Wordpress
Attack vector
NETWORK Attack complexity
LOW Privileges required
NONE Confidentiality impact
PARTIAL Integrity impact
PARTIAL Availability impact
PARTIAL Summary
WordPress before 4.8.3 is affected by an issue where $wpdb->prepare() can create unexpected and unsafe queries leading to potential SQL injection (SQLi) in plugins and themes, as demonstrated by a "double prepare" approach, a different vulnerability than CVE-2017-14723.
Vulnerable Configurations
Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
- Command Line Execution through SQL Injection An attacker uses standard SQL injection methods to inject data into the command line for execution. This could be done directly through misuse of directives such as MSSQL_xp_cmdshell or indirectly through injection of data into the database that would be interpreted as shell commands. Sometime later, an unscrupulous backend application (or could be part of the functionality of the same application) fetches the injected data stored in the database and uses this data as command line arguments without performing proper validation. The malicious data escapes that data plane by spawning new commands to be executed on the host.
- Object Relational Mapping Injection An attacker leverages a weakness present in the database access layer code generated with an Object Relational Mapping (ORM) tool or a weakness in the way that a developer used a persistence framework to inject his or her own SQL commands to be executed against the underlying database. The attack here is similar to plain SQL injection, except that the application does not use JDBC to directly talk to the database, but instead it uses a data access layer generated by an ORM tool or framework (e.g. Hibernate). While most of the time code generated by an ORM tool contains safe access methods that are immune to SQL injection, sometimes either due to some weakness in the generated code or due to the fact that the developer failed to use the generated access methods properly, SQL injection is still possible.
- SQL Injection through SOAP Parameter Tampering An attacker modifies the parameters of the SOAP message that is sent from the service consumer to the service provider to initiate a SQL injection attack. On the service provider side, the SOAP message is parsed and parameters are not properly validated before being used to access a database in a way that does not use parameter binding, thus enabling the attacker to control the structure of the executed SQL query. This pattern describes a SQL injection attack with the delivery mechanism being a SOAP message.
- Expanding Control over the Operating System from the Database An attacker is able to leverage access gained to the database to read / write data to the file system, compromise the operating system, create a tunnel for accessing the host machine, and use this access to potentially attack other machines on the same network as the database machine. Traditionally SQL injections attacks are viewed as a way to gain unauthorized read access to the data stored in the database, modify the data in the database, delete the data, etc. However, almost every data base management system (DBMS) system includes facilities that if compromised allow an attacker complete access to the file system, operating system, and full access to the host running the database. The attacker can then use this privileged access to launch subsequent attacks. These facilities include dropping into a command shell, creating user defined functions that can call system level libraries present on the host machine, stored procedures, etc.
- SQL Injection This attack exploits target software that constructs SQL statements based on user input. An attacker crafts input strings so that when the target software constructs SQL statements based on the input, the resulting SQL statement performs actions other than those the application intended. SQL Injection results from failure of the application to appropriately validate input. When specially crafted user-controlled input consisting of SQL syntax is used without proper validation as part of SQL queries, it is possible to glean information from the database in ways not envisaged during application design. Depending upon the database and the design of the application, it may also be possible to leverage injection to have the database execute system-related commands of the attackers' choice. SQL Injection enables an attacker to talk directly to the database, thus bypassing the application completely. Successful injection can cause information disclosure as well as ability to add or modify data in the database. In order to successfully inject SQL and retrieve information from a database, an attacker:
Nessus
NASL family CGI abuses NASL id WORDPRESS_4_8_3.NASL description According to its self-reported version number, the WordPress application running on the remote web server is prior to 4.8.3. It is, therefore, affected by a SQL Injection vulnerability and other vulnerabilities: - WordPress through 4.8.2 uses a weak MD5-based password hashing algorithm, which makes it easier for attackers to determine cleartext values by leveraging access to the hash values. - WordPress through 4.8.2, when domain-based flashmediaelement.swf sandboxing is not used, allows remote attackers to conduct cross-domain Flash injection (XSF) attacks by leveraging code contained within the wp-includes/js/mediaelement/flashmediaelement.swf file. last seen 2020-06-01 modified 2020-06-02 plugin id 104356 published 2017-11-02 reporter This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof. source https://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/104356 title WordPress < 4.8.3 Multiple Vulnerabilities code # # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc. # include("compat.inc"); if (description) { script_id(104356); script_version("1.8"); script_cvs_date("Date: 2019/03/29 9:51:59"); script_cve_id( "CVE-2012-6707", "CVE-2016-9263", "CVE-2017-14723", "CVE-2017-16510" ); script_bugtraq_id(101638); script_name(english:"WordPress < 4.8.3 Multiple Vulnerabilities"); script_summary(english:"Checks the version of WordPress."); script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value: "A PHP application running on the remote web server is affected a SQL injection vulnerability."); script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value: "According to its self-reported version number, the WordPress application running on the remote web server is prior to 4.8.3. It is, therefore, affected by a SQL Injection vulnerability and other vulnerabilities: - WordPress through 4.8.2 uses a weak MD5-based password hashing algorithm, which makes it easier for attackers to determine cleartext values by leveraging access to the hash values. - WordPress through 4.8.2, when domain-based flashmediaelement.swf sandboxing is not used, allows remote attackers to conduct cross-domain Flash injection (XSF) attacks by leveraging code contained within the wp-includes/js/mediaelement/flashmediaelement.swf file." ); # https://wordpress.org/news/2017/10/wordpress-4-8-3-security-release/ script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?31328bd3"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://codex.wordpress.org/Version_4.8.3"); # https://blog.ircmaxell.com/2017/10/disclosure-wordpress-wpdb-sql-injection-technical.html script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"http://www.nessus.org/u?73b7e2df"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value: "Upgrade to WordPress version 4.8.3 or later."); script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P"); script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C"); script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"); script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2017-16510"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No exploit is required"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2017/10/31"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/10/31"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/11/02"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"remote"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/a:wordpress:wordpress"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"potential_vulnerability", value:"true"); script_end_attributes(); script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO); script_family(english:"CGI abuses"); script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2019 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof."); script_dependencies("wordpress_detect.nasl"); script_require_keys("www/PHP", "installed_sw/WordPress", "Settings/ParanoidReport"); script_require_ports("Services/www", 80, 443); exit(0); } include("vcf.inc"); include("http.inc"); if (report_paranoia < 2) audit(AUDIT_PARANOID); app = "WordPress"; port = get_http_port(default:80, php:TRUE); app_info = vcf::get_app_info(app:app, port:port, webapp:TRUE); vcf::check_granularity(app_info:app_info, sig_segments:2); constraints = [ { "fixed_version":"3.7.23", "fixed_display" : "3.7.23 / 4.8.3" }, { "min_version":"3.8", "fixed_version":"3.8.23", "fixed_display" : "3.8.23 / 4.8.3" }, { "min_version":"3.9", "fixed_version":"3.9.21", "fixed_display" : "3.9.21 / 4.8.3" }, { "min_version":"4.0", "fixed_version":"4.0.20", "fixed_display" : "4.0.20 / 4.8.3" }, { "min_version":"4.1", "fixed_version":"4.1.20", "fixed_display" : "4.1.20 / 4.8.3" }, { "min_version":"4.2", "fixed_version":"4.2.17", "fixed_display" : "4.2.17 / 4.8.3" }, { "min_version":"4.3", "fixed_version":"4.3.13", "fixed_display" : "4.3.13 / 4.8.3" }, { "min_version":"4.4", "fixed_version":"4.4.12", "fixed_display" : "4.4.12 / 4.8.3" }, { "min_version":"4.5", "fixed_version":"4.5.11", "fixed_display" : "4.5.11 / 4.8.3" }, { "min_version":"4.6", "fixed_version":"4.6.8", "fixed_display" : "4.6.8 / 4.8.3" }, { "min_version":"4.7", "fixed_version":"4.7.7", "fixed_display" : "4.7.7 / 4.8.3" }, { "min_version":"4.8", "fixed_version":"4.8.3", "fixed_display" : "4.8.3" } ]; vcf::check_version_and_report( app_info:app_info, constraints:constraints, severity:SECURITY_HOLE, flags:{sqli:TRUE} );NASL family Debian Local Security Checks NASL id DEBIAN_DSA-4090.NASL description Several vulnerabilities were discovered in Wordpress, a web blogging tool. They allowed remote attackers to perform SQL injections and various Cross-Side Scripting (XSS) and Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attacks, as well as bypass some access restrictions. last seen 2020-06-01 modified 2020-06-02 plugin id 106109 published 2018-01-18 reporter This script is Copyright (C) 2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof. source https://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/106109 title Debian DSA-4090-1 : wordpress - security update code # # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc. # # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were # extracted from Debian Security Advisory DSA-4090. The text # itself is copyright (C) Software in the Public Interest, Inc. # include("compat.inc"); if (description) { script_id(106109); script_version("3.6"); script_cvs_date("Date: 2018/11/13 12:30:46"); script_cve_id("CVE-2017-16510", "CVE-2017-17091", "CVE-2017-17092", "CVE-2017-17093", "CVE-2017-17094", "CVE-2017-9066"); script_xref(name:"DSA", value:"4090"); script_name(english:"Debian DSA-4090-1 : wordpress - security update"); script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for the updated package"); script_set_attribute( attribute:"synopsis", value:"The remote Debian host is missing a security-related update." ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"description", value: "Several vulnerabilities were discovered in Wordpress, a web blogging tool. They allowed remote attackers to perform SQL injections and various Cross-Side Scripting (XSS) and Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attacks, as well as bypass some access restrictions." ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=862816" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=883314" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=880528" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/source-package/wordpress" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://packages.debian.org/source/jessie/wordpress" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://packages.debian.org/source/stretch/wordpress" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4090" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"solution", value: "Upgrade the wordpress packages. For the oldstable distribution (jessie), these problems have been fixed in version 4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u16. For the stable distribution (stretch), these problems have been fixed in version 4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u2." ); script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P"); script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:wordpress"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:8.0"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:9.0"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2018/01/17"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2018/01/18"); script_end_attributes(); script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO); script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2018 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof."); script_family(english:"Debian Local Security Checks"); script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl"); script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Debian/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l"); exit(0); } include("audit.inc"); include("debian_package.inc"); if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED); if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Debian"); if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING); flag = 0; if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress", reference:"4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u16")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-l10n", reference:"4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u16")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyfifteen", reference:"4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u16")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyfourteen", reference:"4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u16")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"8.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentythirteen", reference:"4.1+dfsg-1+deb8u16")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u2")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-l10n", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u2")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyfifteen", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u2")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentyseventeen", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u2")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"9.0", prefix:"wordpress-theme-twentysixteen", reference:"4.7.5+dfsg-2+deb9u2")) flag++; if (flag) { if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:deb_report_get()); else security_hole(0); exit(0); } else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");NASL family Debian Local Security Checks NASL id DEBIAN_DLA-1160.NASL description WordPress, a web blogging tool, was affected by an issue where $wpdb->prepare() can create unexpected and unsafe queries leading to potential SQL injection (SQLi) in plugins and themes, as demonstrated by a last seen 2020-03-17 modified 2017-11-06 plugin id 104398 published 2017-11-06 reporter This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc. source https://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/104398 title Debian DLA-1160-1 : wordpress security update code #%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80502 # # (C) Tenable Network Security, Inc. # # The descriptive text and package checks in this plugin were # extracted from Debian Security Advisory DLA-1160-1. The text # itself is copyright (C) Software in the Public Interest, Inc. # include("compat.inc"); if (description) { script_id(104398); script_version("3.4"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2020/03/12"); script_cve_id("CVE-2017-16510"); script_name(english:"Debian DLA-1160-1 : wordpress security update"); script_summary(english:"Checks dpkg output for the updated packages."); script_set_attribute( attribute:"synopsis", value:"The remote Debian host is missing a security update." ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"description", value: "WordPress, a web blogging tool, was affected by an issue where $wpdb->prepare() can create unexpected and unsafe queries leading to potential SQL injection (SQLi) in plugins and themes, as demonstrated by a 'double prepare' approach, a different vulnerability than CVE-2017-14723. For Debian 7 'Wheezy', these problems have been fixed in version 3.6.1+dfsg-1~deb7u18. We recommend that you upgrade your wordpress packages. NOTE: Tenable Network Security has extracted the preceding description block directly from the DLA security advisory. Tenable has attempted to automatically clean and format it as much as possible without introducing additional issues." ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2017/11/msg00003.html" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"see_also", value:"https://packages.debian.org/source/wheezy/wordpress" ); script_set_attribute( attribute:"solution", value:"Upgrade the affected wordpress, and wordpress-l10n packages." ); script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P"); script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C"); script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"); script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:wordpress"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:debian:debian_linux:wordpress-l10n"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:debian:debian_linux:7.0"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"patch_publication_date", value:"2017/11/04"); script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2017/11/06"); script_end_attributes(); script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO); script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2017-2020 Tenable Network Security, Inc."); script_family(english:"Debian Local Security Checks"); script_dependencies("ssh_get_info.nasl"); script_require_keys("Host/local_checks_enabled", "Host/Debian/release", "Host/Debian/dpkg-l"); exit(0); } include("audit.inc"); include("debian_package.inc"); if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED); if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/release")) audit(AUDIT_OS_NOT, "Debian"); if (!get_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l")) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING); flag = 0; if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"wordpress", reference:"3.6.1+dfsg-1~deb7u18")) flag++; if (deb_check(release:"7.0", prefix:"wordpress-l10n", reference:"3.6.1+dfsg-1~deb7u18")) flag++; if (flag) { if (report_verbosity > 0) security_hole(port:0, extra:deb_report_get()); else security_hole(0); exit(0); } else audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, "affected");
References
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101638
- https://blog.ircmaxell.com/2017/10/disclosure-wordpress-wpdb-sql-injection-technical.html
- https://codex.wordpress.org/Version_4.8.3
- https://github.com/WordPress/WordPress/commit/a2693fd8602e3263b5925b9d799ddd577202167d
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2017/11/msg00003.html
- https://wordpress.org/news/2017/10/wordpress-4-8-3-security-release/
- https://wpvulndb.com/vulnerabilities/8941
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4090