CVE-2024-38788 Overview
CVE-2024-38788 is a SQL injection vulnerability in the UiPress lite plugin for WordPress developed by Admin 2020. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. It affects all UiPress lite versions from initial release through 3.4.06. An authenticated attacker with high privileges can inject arbitrary SQL statements into database queries. Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying WordPress database.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can extract, modify, or delete WordPress database contents through crafted SQL payloads sent to vulnerable UiPress lite endpoints.
Affected Products
- UiPress lite plugin for WordPress
- All versions up to and including 3.4.06
- WordPress installations using the vulnerable plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-07-22 - CVE-2024-38788 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-38788
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the UiPress lite WordPress plugin where user-controlled input flows into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterized query use. This is a classic SQL injection weakness classified under [CWE-89]. An attacker with existing high-privileged access to the WordPress admin interface can supply crafted input containing SQL metacharacters. The plugin concatenates this input directly into database queries executed against the WordPress MySQL backend.
Successful exploitation grants the attacker the ability to read arbitrary tables, including the wp_users table containing password hashes and session tokens. Attackers can also modify records, escalate privileges, insert malicious administrative accounts, or drop tables entirely. The impact extends across confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the database.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements passed into SQL statements. The plugin fails to use prepared statements or apply escaping through WordPress functions such as $wpdb->prepare(). User-supplied parameters reach the query layer with SQL syntax intact.
Attack Vector
The attack is network-based and requires authentication with high privileges within the affected WordPress site. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's own session. The attacker sends crafted HTTP requests to vulnerable plugin endpoints. Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Vulnerability advisory for the technical breakdown.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-38788
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual SQL syntax such as UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA appearing in web server access logs targeting UiPress lite endpoints.
- Unexpected new administrator accounts in the wp_users table or unexplained modifications to wp_options.
- Outbound database queries originating from authenticated admin sessions at abnormal times or volumes.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect WordPress access logs for POST or GET requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php referencing UiPress lite actions with suspicious query parameters.
- Enable MySQL general query logging temporarily to identify malformed or injection-style queries originating from the plugin.
- Deploy a web application firewall (WAF) with SQL injection signatures tuned for WordPress plugin traffic.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on modifications to sensitive WordPress tables including wp_users, wp_usermeta, and wp_options.
- Track privilege changes and new user creation events within the WordPress admin activity log.
- Correlate authenticated admin sessions with database query anomalies to identify insider or compromised-account exploitation.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-38788
Immediate Actions Required
- Update UiPress lite to a version later than 3.4.06 as soon as the vendor releases a patched build.
- Audit all WordPress administrator and editor accounts and enforce credential rotation for high-privileged users.
- Review database contents for unauthorized rows, modified administrator accounts, or injected content.
Patch Information
Refer to the Patchstack advisory for UiPress lite for current patch availability. Apply the fixed release once published by the vendor. Verify plugin integrity after upgrade by comparing file hashes against the official distribution.
Workarounds
- Deactivate the UiPress lite plugin until a fixed version is installed if administrative UI customization is not business-critical.
- Restrict WordPress administrator access to a small set of vetted users and enforce multi-factor authentication.
- Place the WordPress site behind a WAF configured to block SQL injection payloads targeting admin-ajax.php and plugin endpoints.
# Disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate uipress-lite
# Optionally remove until a patched release is available
wp plugin delete uipress-lite
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
