CVE-2024-2344: Theme-fusion Avada SQLI Vulnerability

CVE-2024-2344 Overview

CVE-2024-2344 is a SQL Injection vulnerability [CWE-89] in the Avada theme for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 7.11.6. The flaw resides in the handling of the entry parameter, which lacks proper escaping and is concatenated into an SQL query without sufficient preparation. Authenticated users with editor-level access or higher can append arbitrary SQL clauses to existing database queries. Successful exploitation allows attackers to extract sensitive information from the underlying WordPress database, including user credentials, session tokens, and site configuration data.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with editor privileges can inject arbitrary SQL statements to exfiltrate sensitive database records from WordPress sites running vulnerable Avada theme versions.

Affected Products

Theme-Fusion Avada theme for WordPress, all versions through 7.11.6
WordPress sites with editor-level or higher user accounts using vulnerable Avada builds
Any deployment installing Avada from cpe:2.3:a:theme-fusion:avada prior to the patched release

Discovery Timeline

2024-04-09 - CVE-2024-2344 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-2344

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability exists in Avada theme code that processes the entry parameter submitted by authenticated users. The theme passes the parameter value into an SQL query without applying wpdb::prepare() placeholders or the esc_sql() sanitization routine. This allows syntactically valid SQL fragments supplied through entry to be interpreted as part of the query executed against the WordPress database.

Because the injection point sits inside an existing query, attackers use UNION-based or stacked query techniques to append arbitrary SELECT statements. The database returns rows from tables such as wp_users and wp_usermeta, exposing hashed passwords, session tokens stored in user meta, and secret keys stored in options. The vulnerability requires editor-level authentication, which limits opportunistic mass exploitation but remains attractive for privilege escalation from compromised low-tier accounts.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. Avada builds the SQL string by concatenating the entry value directly rather than binding it as a parameter through the WordPress database abstraction layer. No allow-list validation constrains the parameter to expected numeric or identifier formats.

Attack Vector

Exploitation occurs over the network against authenticated sessions. An attacker holding editor, administrator, or equivalent WordPress role sends a crafted HTTP request that supplies malicious SQL syntax in the entry parameter. The database processes the injected clauses in the context of the WordPress user, returning query results the attacker parses from the HTTP response. Public exploit details are documented in the GitHub Gist Exploit Details and the Wordfence Vulnerability Intel Report.

No verified sanitized exploit code is available for republication. See the referenced advisories for technical proof-of-concept details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-2344

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP POST or GET requests to Avada theme endpoints containing SQL metacharacters such as UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, --, /*, or 0x sequences inside the entry parameter.
Unexpected long-duration database queries or errors referencing the entry parameter in MySQL slow query and error logs.
Editor or administrator accounts issuing high volumes of requests against Avada AJAX or admin-post handlers within short time windows.
New or modified rows in wp_users, wp_usermeta, or wp_options immediately following requests containing entry payloads.

Detection Strategies

Inspect WordPress access logs for requests where the entry parameter contains SQL syntax tokens and correlate with authenticated session identifiers.
Enable and monitor MySQL general or audit logs to identify anomalous UNION, INFORMATION_SCHEMA, or time-based queries originating from the WordPress database user.
Deploy a web application firewall ruleset that flags SQL injection patterns targeting Avada endpoints, including keyword and encoded-payload variants.

Monitoring Recommendations

Alert on any successful authentication by editor-level or higher accounts from unusual geolocations or IP ranges.
Track WordPress role changes, new administrator creations, and application password issuance as follow-on indicators after suspected injection activity.
Baseline typical entry parameter values seen in production traffic and alert on payloads that deviate in length, character class, or encoding.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-2344

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade the Avada theme to a version later than 7.11.6 as listed in the Avada Changelog Documentation.
Audit all WordPress accounts with editor role or higher, remove unused accounts, and rotate credentials for retained accounts.
Force password resets and invalidate active sessions if injection activity is suspected in access or database logs.
Rotate WordPress salts in wp-config.php and any API keys or secrets stored in wp_options after confirming a compromise.

Patch Information

Theme-Fusion addressed the SQL injection in an Avada release following 7.11.6. Refer to the Avada Changelog Documentation for the exact fixed version and to the Wordfence Vulnerability Intel Report for advisory context. Apply the update through the WordPress theme updater or by replacing theme files with the vendor-supplied package.

Workarounds

Restrict editor role assignment to trusted personnel until patching completes, since exploitation requires authenticated editor privileges.
Place the WordPress admin interface behind IP allow-listing or a reverse proxy that filters SQL injection patterns in query and body parameters.
Deploy WAF rules that block requests containing SQL syntax in the entry parameter targeted at Avada theme routes.
Enable database-level least privilege for the WordPress MySQL account, removing FILE and cross-database privileges to limit post-exploitation impact.

bash

# Configuration example: identify vulnerable Avada installations across a WordPress fleet
find /var/www -type f -path '*/themes/Avada/style.css' -exec \
  grep -HE '^Version:\s*(7\.([0-9]|10|11\.[0-6]?))' {} \;