CVE-2024-37486 Overview
CVE-2024-37486 is an authenticated SQL injection vulnerability in the Paid Memberships Pro WordPress plugin developed by Strangerstudios. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 3.0.5. An authenticated attacker with high privileges can inject arbitrary SQL commands through improperly sanitized input parameters. Successful exploitation compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying WordPress database. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 for Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can extract, modify, or delete WordPress database contents, including member records, payment metadata, and administrative credentials.
Affected Products
- Paid Memberships Pro plugin for WordPress, versions up to and including 3.0.5
- WordPress sites running the strangerstudios/paid_memberships_pro component
- Membership sites using Paid Memberships Pro for subscription and access control
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-07-09 - CVE-2024-37486 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-37486
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Paid Memberships Pro plugin's handling of user-supplied input passed into SQL queries. The plugin fails to properly neutralize special SQL characters before concatenating parameters into database statements. An authenticated attacker with high privileges can craft malicious input that breaks out of the intended query context. This enables arbitrary SQL execution against the WordPress database.
Exploitation requires network access to the target WordPress site and existing authenticated access. The attacker interacts with an affected endpoint through the web interface or REST API. No user interaction from another party is required to complete the attack. The scope remains unchanged, but impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper input sanitization when constructing SQL queries within the plugin. The affected code path concatenates request parameters directly into query strings rather than using parameterized statements or the WordPress $wpdb->prepare() API. This allows special characters such as single quotes, semicolons, and SQL keywords to alter the query's structure.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker sends a crafted HTTP request containing SQL metacharacters to a vulnerable plugin endpoint. The plugin passes the tainted input into a database query without escaping or parameter binding. The injected payload executes with the privileges of the WordPress database user, typically allowing full read and write access to all plugin tables. Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for technical details of the affected parameter.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-37486
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected outbound queries or UNION SELECT patterns in WordPress database query logs
- HTTP requests to Paid Memberships Pro endpoints containing SQL metacharacters such as ', --, UNION, or SLEEP()
- Unusual administrative account creation or privilege changes in the wp_users and wp_usermeta tables
- Anomalous access patterns from authenticated accounts with elevated roles
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall rules that inspect requests to /wp-admin/ and Paid Memberships Pro AJAX endpoints for SQL injection patterns
- Enable WordPress database query logging and alert on syntax errors or query duration anomalies
- Review authenticated session activity for high-privilege users interacting with plugin endpoints outside normal workflows
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor plugin version inventory across managed WordPress installations to identify hosts still running 3.0.5 or earlier
- Correlate WordPress access logs with database error logs to identify probing attempts
- Track administrative user creation, role changes, and unexpected wp_options modifications
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-37486
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Paid Memberships Pro plugin to a version later than 3.0.5 immediately
- Audit WordPress administrative accounts and rotate credentials for any high-privilege users
- Review recent database changes for signs of unauthorized modification or data exfiltration
- Restrict administrative access using IP allowlists or multi-factor authentication
Patch Information
Strangerstudios released a fixed version of Paid Memberships Pro that addresses CVE-2024-37486. Administrators should update through the WordPress plugin manager or download the latest release from the official plugin repository. Review the Patchstack Vulnerability Report for exact patched version details.
Workarounds
- Temporarily disable the Paid Memberships Pro plugin if patching cannot be completed immediately
- Enforce least privilege on WordPress accounts and remove unused administrator or editor roles
- Deploy a web application firewall with SQL injection signatures in front of the WordPress site
- Restrict access to plugin administrative endpoints through server-level authentication or IP filtering
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
