CVE-2024-37494 Overview
CVE-2024-37494 is a SQL injection vulnerability affecting the KaineLabs Youzify plugin for WordPress. The flaw impacts all versions from initial release through 1.2.5. Authenticated attackers with low-level privileges can inject malicious SQL statements through unsanitized input parameters. Successful exploitation grants attackers the ability to read, modify, or delete database content, including WordPress user credentials and session data. The vulnerability is classified 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
- KaineLabs Youzify plugin for WordPress
- All versions from initial release through 1.2.5
- WordPress sites using Youzify community and user profile features
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-07-09 - CVE-2024-37494 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-37494
Vulnerability Analysis
The Youzify plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. Attackers with authenticated low-privilege access can supply crafted parameters that break out of the intended query context. The database engine then executes the injected statements as part of the original query. This grants access to arbitrary tables including wp_users, wp_usermeta, and wp_options.
The vulnerability is exploitable over the network with low attack complexity. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's authenticated session. Because Youzify is a social community plugin, low-privilege accounts are often available through open registration, expanding the practical attack surface.
Root Cause
The root cause is the concatenation or unsafe interpolation of untrusted input into SQL statements without parameterization. WordPress provides the $wpdb->prepare() method for safe query construction, but affected code paths in Youzify bypass this protection. Input parameters flow directly into query strings, allowing SQL metacharacters to alter query semantics.
Attack Vector
An attacker authenticates to the target WordPress site using any account with subscriber-level or higher privileges. The attacker then sends a crafted HTTP request to a vulnerable Youzify endpoint with SQL payloads embedded in request parameters. The server processes the request, executes the injected SQL, and returns results that may include sensitive database content. Blind and time-based injection techniques are viable when responses do not directly echo query output. See the Patchstack Vulnerability Database Entry for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-37494
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual UNION SELECT, SLEEP(), or BENCHMARK() patterns in WordPress access logs targeting Youzify endpoints
- Unexpected administrative account creation or role escalation in wp_users and wp_usermeta tables
- Anomalous database query durations correlated with requests from authenticated low-privilege sessions
- Outbound connections from the web server to unfamiliar hosts following suspicious plugin requests
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WordPress request logs for SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, comment sequences, and boolean tautologies in Youzify parameter values
- Enable database query logging and correlate long-running or error-generating queries with authenticated user sessions
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection signatures tuned for WordPress plugin endpoints
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on any modifications to the wp_users and wp_options tables outside of scheduled administrative activity
- Track authentication events for low-privilege accounts that generate high volumes of requests to plugin-specific URLs
- Ingest WordPress and web server logs into a centralized analytics platform to correlate injection attempts across sessions
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-37494
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the KaineLabs Youzify plugin to a version later than 1.2.5 as soon as a patched release is available from the vendor
- Audit all WordPress user accounts and revoke suspicious or unused low-privilege accounts to reduce authenticated attack surface
- Review database contents for unauthorized administrative accounts, modified options, or injected content
- Rotate all WordPress user passwords and API keys if compromise is suspected
Patch Information
Refer to the Patchstack Vulnerability Database Entry for the current patch status and vendor guidance. Administrators should apply the vendor-supplied update through the WordPress plugin management interface once released.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the Youzify plugin until a patched version is installed if operational requirements permit
- Disable open user registration or restrict registration to trusted email domains to limit authenticated attackers
- Deploy a WAF rule that blocks SQL injection payloads targeting Youzify request parameters
- Restrict database user privileges for the WordPress account to the minimum required, avoiding FILE and SUPER grants
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
