CVE-2024-23507 Overview
CVE-2024-23507 is a SQL injection vulnerability in the InstaWP Connect plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions of instawp-connect up to and including 0.1.0.9. The plugin fails to properly neutralize special elements in SQL commands, allowing authenticated attackers to inject malicious SQL statements. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command).
Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying WordPress database. An attacker with low-level privileges can extract sensitive data, modify records, or disrupt site functionality.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the WordPress database, exposing credentials, user data, and site configuration.
Affected Products
- InstaWP Connect plugin for WordPress: versions up to and including 0.1.0.9
- WordPress sites with instawp-connect installed and activated
- Any InstaWP-managed staging or migration workflow relying on the vulnerable plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-01-31 - CVE-2024-23507 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-23507
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the InstaWP Connect plugin, which handles site migration and staging operations for WordPress. User-supplied input reaches an SQL query without proper sanitization or parameterization. This allows an attacker to alter the intended query logic and execute arbitrary SQL statements.
The issue requires network access and low-privilege authentication. No user interaction is required, and exploitation impacts all three security properties of the database: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The EPSS probability is 0.621% (percentile 46.152), indicating limited but non-trivial exploitation likelihood.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing input neutralization in query construction. The plugin concatenates user-controlled parameters directly into SQL statements instead of using prepared statements through the WordPress $wpdb->prepare() API. Any request parameter reaching the vulnerable code path can carry SQL metacharacters that break out of the intended query context.
Attack Vector
An authenticated user sends a crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable endpoint exposed by the instawp-connect plugin. The malicious payload embeds SQL syntax such as UNION SELECT, boolean-based predicates, or time-based delays. The database server interprets the injected fragment as part of the query and executes it against the WordPress schema. Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for endpoint-level detail.
See the Patchstack Vulnerability Analysis for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-23507
Indicators of Compromise
- Web server access logs containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP(, or -- in query strings or POST bodies directed at instawp-connect endpoints
- Unusual database read volume from the wp_users, wp_usermeta, or wp_options tables originating from PHP-FPM processes serving the plugin
- Anomalous authenticated sessions issuing requests to InstaWP Connect REST or AJAX handlers
- Presence of instawp-connect plugin versions at or below 0.1.0.9 on WordPress hosts
Detection Strategies
- Deploy a web application firewall ruleset that inspects requests to WordPress plugin endpoints for SQL metacharacters and known injection payload patterns
- Enable MySQL/MariaDB general or slow query logging on WordPress database servers and alert on queries containing tautologies or stacked statements from plugin request paths
- Monitor WordPress audit logs for unexpected privilege changes, option modifications, or user creation events following requests to instawp-connect
Monitoring Recommendations
- Continuously inventory installed WordPress plugins and versions and flag hosts running instawp-connect at 0.1.0.9 or earlier
- Correlate authentication logs with plugin endpoint access to identify low-privilege accounts probing InstaWP handlers
- Baseline database query patterns per WordPress site and alert on volumetric or structural deviations tied to plugin activity
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-23507
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the InstaWP Connect plugin to a version later than 0.1.0.9 on every affected WordPress site
- Audit WordPress user accounts and revoke sessions for low-privilege users that accessed instawp-connect endpoints during the exposure window
- Rotate WordPress database credentials, administrator passwords, and API keys that may have been exposed through injected queries
- Review database contents for unauthorized modifications to wp_users, wp_options, and post metadata
Patch Information
InstaWP addressed the vulnerability in releases after 0.1.0.9. Administrators should install the latest version of the instawp-connect plugin from the WordPress plugin repository. Consult the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for fixed version details.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the instawp-connect plugin until it can be updated to a fixed version
- Restrict access to WordPress admin and REST endpoints using IP allow-listing at the reverse proxy or WAF layer
- Enforce least-privilege on WordPress accounts so that only trusted operators hold roles capable of reaching plugin endpoints
- Enable a WordPress-aware WAF ruleset that blocks SQL injection payloads targeting plugin URIs
# Configuration example: disable the vulnerable plugin from WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate instawp-connect
wp plugin update instawp-connect
wp plugin list --name=instawp-connect --fields=name,status,version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
