CVE-2024-32139: Podlove Podcast Publisher SQLi Flaw

CVE-2024-32139 Overview

CVE-2024-32139 is a SQL Injection vulnerability in the Podlove Podcast Publisher plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 4.0.12. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can inject malicious SQL statements through improperly sanitized input parameters. Successful exploitation leads to unauthorized database access, data disclosure, modification, or destruction.

The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-89] (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command). It is exploitable remotely over the network without user interaction.

Critical Impact
Attackers with low-privileged WordPress accounts can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the site database, exposing credentials, user data, and site configuration.

Affected Products

Podlove Podcast Publisher plugin for WordPress, versions up to and including 4.0.12
WordPress sites running the Podlove Podcasting Plugin with authenticated user access
Any site exposing Podlove endpoints to low-privileged authenticated users

Discovery Timeline

2024-04-15 - CVE-2024-32139 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-32139

Vulnerability Analysis

The Podlove Podcast Publisher plugin fails to properly neutralize special SQL characters supplied through user-controlled input. Attacker-supplied values reach database query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This lets an attacker break out of the intended query context and inject arbitrary SQL statements.

Exploitation requires an authenticated session with at least contributor-level access on the target WordPress instance. Once authenticated, an attacker sends crafted requests to plugin endpoints that build SQL queries from request parameters. The injected payload executes with the database privileges granted to the WordPress application user.

Successful exploitation gives attackers full read and write access to the WordPress database. This includes the wp_users table containing password hashes, session tokens, and any custom tables managed by other plugins. Attackers can also leverage database access to seed persistent administrative accounts.

Root Cause

The root cause is direct concatenation of untrusted input into SQL queries within the plugin code. The plugin does not use WordPress prepared statement APIs such as $wpdb->prepare() consistently, nor does it apply input type coercion before query construction. This omission allows metacharacters like single quotes and SQL keywords to alter query semantics.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based via authenticated HTTP requests to the WordPress site. An attacker with a low-privileged account submits requests to plugin endpoints, injecting SQL syntax into vulnerable parameters. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's own authenticated session. The vulnerability does not require administrative privileges, expanding the pool of accounts that can trigger it.

See the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-32139

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected SQL syntax (UNION, SELECT, SLEEP, quote characters) in HTTP request parameters targeting /wp-admin/admin.php or /wp-json/podlove/* endpoints
Anomalous read volumes against wp_users or plugin-specific tables from the WordPress application database account
New or modified administrator accounts in wp_users not tied to legitimate provisioning workflows
WordPress error log entries referencing wpdb query failures originating from Podlove plugin files

Detection Strategies

Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection signatures targeting authenticated WordPress plugin endpoints
Enable MySQL general query logging or audit logging on the WordPress database and alert on statements containing UNION SELECT or comment terminators from the application user
Monitor WordPress access logs for POST or GET requests to Podlove endpoints containing URL-encoded SQL metacharacters such as %27, %20UNION, or %23

Monitoring Recommendations

Baseline normal request patterns to Podlove plugin routes and alert on deviations in parameter length and character composition
Correlate authenticated user activity with subsequent database anomalies to identify compromised low-privileged accounts
Track file integrity on the plugin directory (wp-content/plugins/podlove-podcasting-plugin-for-wordpress/) to detect post-exploitation webshell placement

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-32139

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Podlove Podcast Publisher plugin to a version later than 4.0.12 as soon as a fixed release is available from the vendor
Audit WordPress user accounts and remove or disable inactive contributor, author, and editor accounts
Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and database passwords if exploitation is suspected
Review wp_users and wp_usermeta for unauthorized privilege changes or newly created accounts

Patch Information

Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for the latest patch status. Site operators should apply the vendor-supplied update via the WordPress plugin manager immediately upon release.

Workarounds

Deactivate the Podlove Podcast Publisher plugin until a fixed version is installed
Restrict access to WordPress authenticated endpoints via IP allowlisting or VPN for editorial staff
Deploy a virtual patch through a WordPress-aware WAF such as Patchstack, Wordfence, or a network WAF with WordPress rulesets
Enforce the principle of least privilege on the WordPress database user, removing unnecessary DROP, ALTER, and FILE grants

bash

# Configuration example: temporarily deactivate the plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate podlove-podcasting-plugin-for-wordpress

# Verify status
wp plugin status podlove-podcasting-plugin-for-wordpress