CVE-2024-35736 Overview
CVE-2024-35736 is a SQL injection vulnerability in the Themeisle Visualizer plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all versions of Visualizer up to and including 3.11.1. Attackers with low-privileged authenticated access can inject malicious SQL statements through the plugin's inputs. Successful exploitation exposes the WordPress database to unauthorized reads, modifications, and destructive actions. The issue is tracked under CWE-89 — Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the WordPress database, leading to full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of site data.
Affected Products
- Themeisle Visualizer plugin for WordPress, versions up to and including 3.11.1
- WordPress sites with the Visualizer plugin installed and activated
- Deployments where low-privileged users can interact with plugin functionality
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-06-08 - CVE-2024-35736 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-35736
Vulnerability Analysis
The Visualizer plugin fails to properly neutralize special characters in user-supplied input before incorporating that input into SQL statements. An authenticated attacker can craft input containing SQL metacharacters that alter query semantics at execution time. Because the injection occurs inside a plugin operating within the WordPress database context, attackers can query any table accessible to the WordPress database user, including wp_users and wp_options.
The network-reachable attack surface and the low privilege requirement make this vulnerability practical to exploit in multi-user WordPress installations. Any account tier permitted to invoke the vulnerable Visualizer endpoint can trigger the flaw.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient input sanitization and parameterization within Visualizer's database interaction code paths. User input flows into SQL query construction without prepared statements or escaping via $wpdb->prepare(). This allows attacker-controlled data to be interpreted as SQL syntax rather than literal values.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access to the target WordPress site and a valid low-privileged account. The attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to a Visualizer plugin endpoint containing SQL payloads in vulnerable parameters. No user interaction is required beyond the authenticated request. Technical exploitation details are documented in the Patchstack SQL Injection Vulnerability advisory.
No public proof-of-concept exploit code has been published to Exploit-DB, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog at the time of writing.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-35736
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to Visualizer plugin endpoints containing SQL syntax such as UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, OR 1=1, or comment sequences like -- and /*
- Unexpected outbound queries or long-running database queries originating from the WordPress PHP process
- New or modified rows in wp_users, wp_usermeta, or wp_options that do not correspond to legitimate admin activity
- Web server access logs showing repeated errors or 500 responses from Visualizer-related URLs
Detection Strategies
- Enable a WordPress-aware web application firewall (WAF) with rulesets that flag SQL injection patterns targeting plugin endpoints
- Review wpdb query logs or MySQL general query logs for anomalous statements referencing Visualizer tables or system tables like information_schema
- Correlate authenticated session activity with database query volume to surface low-privilege accounts issuing high-cardinality queries
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest WordPress access logs, PHP error logs, and MySQL query logs into a centralized analytics platform for continuous inspection
- Alert on authentication events for low-privilege roles followed by requests to plugin admin-ajax or REST endpoints
- Track the installed version of Visualizer across managed WordPress fleets to identify hosts still running 3.11.1 or earlier
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-35736
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Themeisle Visualizer plugin to a version later than 3.11.1 on every WordPress site where it is installed
- Audit user accounts and revoke unused low-privilege accounts that could be leveraged to exploit the endpoint
- Rotate WordPress administrator passwords and database credentials if compromise is suspected
- Review the WordPress database for unauthorized users, modified options, or injected content
Patch Information
The vendor has addressed the issue in a release subsequent to 3.11.1. Refer to the Patchstack advisory for the fixed version and remediation guidance. Apply the update through the WordPress plugin manager or by deploying the patched package to affected hosts.
Workarounds
- Deactivate and remove the Visualizer plugin until the patched version can be applied
- Restrict access to WordPress admin endpoints using IP allowlisting at the reverse proxy or WAF layer
- Enforce the principle of least privilege by limiting which roles can interact with Visualizer functionality
- Deploy virtual patching rules in a WAF to block SQL injection payloads targeting Visualizer request parameters
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
