CVE-2023-54359: WordPress Adivaha Travel Plugin SQLI Flaw

CVE-2023-54359 Overview

WordPress adivaha Travel Plugin version 2.3 contains a time-based blind SQL injection vulnerability that allows unauthenticated attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting SQL code through the pid GET parameter. Attackers can send requests to the /mobile-app/v3/ endpoint with crafted pid values using XOR-based payloads to extract sensitive database information or cause denial of service.

Critical Impact

This SQL injection vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to extract sensitive database contents including user credentials, personally identifiable information, and potentially gain further access to the underlying WordPress installation.

Affected Products

• WordPress adivaha Travel Plugin version 2.3
• WordPress installations using the adivaha Hotel plugin

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-04-09 - CVE CVE-2023-54359 published to NVD
• 2026-04-09 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2023-54359

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-89 (SQL Injection), specifically a time-based blind SQL injection. The flaw exists in the adivaha Travel Plugin's mobile application API endpoint, where user-supplied input through the pid GET parameter is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into SQL queries.

Time-based blind SQL injection is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to extract data even when the application does not display error messages or query results directly. By injecting conditional time delays into SQL queries, attackers can infer information about the database structure and contents one bit at a time.

The vulnerability is accessible over the network without authentication, meaning any internet-facing WordPress site running the vulnerable plugin version is at risk. Successful exploitation could lead to complete database compromise, including extraction of WordPress user credentials, customer data from the travel booking system, and other sensitive information stored in the database.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is improper input validation and lack of parameterized queries in the adivaha Travel Plugin's API handler. The pid parameter value is directly concatenated into SQL statements without proper escaping or the use of prepared statements, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL syntax that modifies the intended query behavior.

Attack Vector

The attack is executed remotely over the network by sending specially crafted HTTP GET requests to the vulnerable /mobile-app/v3/ endpoint. Attackers construct XOR-based payloads in the pid parameter that introduce conditional time delays using SQL functions like SLEEP() or BENCHMARK(). By measuring response times, attackers can determine whether injected conditions evaluate to true or false, enabling data extraction through boolean-based inference.

The exploitation process typically involves:

1. Identifying a vulnerable WordPress installation with the adivaha Travel Plugin
2. Sending requests to the /mobile-app/v3/ endpoint with time-delay payloads in the pid parameter
3. Measuring response times to infer database information bit by bit
4. Automating the process with tools like sqlmap to dump database contents

For technical exploitation details, see the Exploit-DB #51655 entry and the VulnCheck Advisory on SQL Injection.

Detection Methods for CVE-2023-54359

Indicators of Compromise

• Suspicious HTTP GET requests to /mobile-app/v3/ containing SQL keywords in the pid parameter
• Requests containing XOR operators, SLEEP(), BENCHMARK(), or other time-delay SQL functions
• Unusually slow response times from the WordPress server that correlate with specific request patterns
• Evidence of database enumeration activity in web server access logs

Detection Strategies

• Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection detection rules targeting the /mobile-app/v3/ endpoint
• Monitor web server logs for requests containing SQL injection patterns such as SLEEP, BENCHMARK, XOR, UNION SELECT, and other common injection keywords
• Implement rate limiting on API endpoints to slow down automated exploitation attempts
• Use database activity monitoring to detect unusual query patterns or unexpected time delays

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging on the WordPress installation and review logs for suspicious pid parameter values
• Configure SIEM rules to alert on multiple requests to /mobile-app/v3/ with varying pid values from the same source
• Monitor database server performance metrics for unusual CPU usage or query execution times
• Set up automated scanning of WordPress plugins for known vulnerabilities

How to Mitigate CVE-2023-54359

Immediate Actions Required

• Disable or remove the adivaha Travel Plugin version 2.3 immediately if no patch is available
• Block access to the /mobile-app/v3/ endpoint at the web server or WAF level
• Review database logs for evidence of prior exploitation and assess potential data exposure
• Reset database credentials and WordPress user passwords if compromise is suspected

Patch Information

Check the WordPress Plugin Page and Adivaha Overview for updated versions that address this vulnerability. Upgrade to the latest patched version as soon as it becomes available.

Workarounds

• Implement a Web Application Firewall rule to block requests containing SQL injection patterns in the pid parameter
• Use .htaccess or server configuration to restrict access to the /mobile-app/v3/ endpoint to trusted IP addresses only
• If the mobile app functionality is not required, disable the vulnerable endpoint entirely by deactivating the plugin
• Consider implementing input validation at the web server level to reject non-numeric values in the pid parameter

# Example .htaccess rule to block access to vulnerable endpoint
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
    RewriteEngine On
    RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^/mobile-app/v3/ [NC]
    RewriteRule ^(.*)$ - [F,L]
</IfModule>