CVE-2024-30495: Faboba Falang SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2024-30495 Overview

CVE-2024-30495 is a SQL Injection vulnerability in the Faboba Falang multilanguage plugin for WordPress. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. It affects all Falang multilanguage plugin versions up to and including 1.3.47. An authenticated attacker with high privileges can send crafted input to vulnerable parameters. This input reaches the underlying SQL query without proper sanitization or parameterization. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to read, modify, or delete database records and impact the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the WordPress site.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation enables an authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary SQL queries against the WordPress database, exposing site content, user credentials, and configuration data.

Affected Products

Faboba Falang multilanguage plugin for WordPress
All versions from n/a through 1.3.47
WordPress installations with the Falang plugin activated

Discovery Timeline

2024-03-29 - CVE-2024-30495 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-30495

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Falang multilanguage plugin, which provides multilingual capabilities for WordPress sites. User-controlled input is concatenated into SQL statements without proper escaping or the use of prepared statements. An attacker who authenticates with high privileges can inject SQL syntax into vulnerable request parameters. The injected payload executes in the context of the WordPress database user, granting broad read and write access to the wp_ tables.

Exploitation is performed over the network without user interaction. The scope is unchanged, but confidentiality, integrity, and availability are all impacted. Compromise of the database enables credential theft, content tampering, and potential site takeover through modification of administrative user records.

Root Cause

The root cause is failure to neutralize special SQL characters in user input before incorporating that input into database queries. The plugin does not use $wpdb->prepare() with parameter placeholders for the affected code path. As a result, characters such as single quotes, semicolons, and SQL keywords are interpreted as part of the query structure rather than as literal data.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires an authenticated session with high privileges in the WordPress admin interface. The attacker submits crafted parameter values to the vulnerable plugin endpoint. The injected SQL is processed by the WordPress database, returning results or executing modifications defined by the attacker. See the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for additional technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-30495

Indicators of Compromise

Unusual SQL syntax such as UNION SELECT, OR 1=1, or comment sequences (--, #) appearing in WordPress access logs for Falang plugin endpoints
Unexpected database queries originating from the WordPress process that reference wp_users or wp_options tables
New or modified administrator accounts in wp_users without a corresponding audit trail
Outbound connections from the web server following administrative activity on the Falang plugin

Detection Strategies

Enable WordPress database query logging and review queries generated by the Falang plugin for injection patterns
Deploy a web application firewall with SQL injection signatures tuned for WordPress plugin request paths
Correlate authenticated admin sessions with anomalous parameter values sent to Falang endpoints

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor HTTP request logs for suspicious parameters targeting /wp-admin/admin.php with page=falang or related plugin actions
Alert on failed and successful logins to high-privilege WordPress accounts followed by plugin configuration changes
Track integrity of the wp_users and wp_usermeta tables to detect unauthorized privilege escalation

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-30495

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Faboba Falang multilanguage plugin to a version later than 1.3.47 as soon as a fixed release is available
Audit all WordPress administrator and editor accounts and rotate credentials for high-privilege users
Review database contents and audit logs for signs of prior exploitation, including unauthorized user or option changes

Patch Information

Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for current patch status and vendor guidance. If no patched version is available, restrict access to the plugin functionality until a fix is released.

Workarounds

Deactivate the Falang multilanguage plugin until a patched version is deployed
Restrict WordPress administrative access to trusted IP ranges via web server or firewall rules
Enforce least privilege on WordPress accounts and remove unnecessary administrator roles
Deploy a web application firewall rule to block SQL metacharacters in requests to Falang plugin endpoints

bash

# Example: restrict access to wp-admin using nginx
location ~ ^/wp-admin/ {
    allow 203.0.113.0/24;   # trusted admin network
    deny all;
    try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;
}