CVE-2024-39638 Overview
CVE-2024-39638 is a SQL injection vulnerability in the Roundup WP Registrations for the Events Calendar plugin for WordPress. The flaw affects all plugin versions up to and including 2.12.2 and is tracked under CWE-89. Improper neutralization of special characters in SQL statements allows an authenticated attacker to inject arbitrary SQL into backend queries. Successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the WordPress database.
Critical Impact
An authenticated attacker with low privileges can execute arbitrary SQL queries, leading to disclosure of sensitive registration data, modification of database records, and potential full compromise of the WordPress site.
Affected Products
- Roundup WP Registrations for the Events Calendar plugin versions up to and including 2.12.2
- WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin
- Environments where the plugin exposes event registration functionality to authenticated users
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-08-29 - CVE-2024-39638 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-39638
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the Registrations for the Events Calendar WordPress plugin, which extends The Events Calendar with attendee registration functionality. User-controlled input is passed into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. An attacker sends crafted request parameters that break out of the intended query context. The database interprets the injected payload as part of the SQL statement.
The attack requires network access and low-privilege authentication, but no user interaction. Because the plugin interacts with the WordPress database, exploitation grants read and write access to wp_users, wp_options, and plugin-specific tables. Attackers can extract password hashes, escalate privileges, or plant persistent backdoors through the wp_options table.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. The plugin concatenates untrusted input directly into SQL statements instead of using the WordPress $wpdb->prepare() API with parameterized placeholders. Any input character with SQL meaning, such as single quotes or UNION keywords, alters query semantics.
Attack Vector
Exploitation proceeds over HTTP against a WordPress site with the vulnerable plugin installed. The attacker authenticates as a low-privilege user, such as a subscriber or contributor, then submits a crafted request to a plugin endpoint that processes registration data. The injected SQL executes with the privileges of the WordPress database user, typically granting full database access.
No verified public exploit code is available at this time. Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Vulnerability advisory for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-39638
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected SQL syntax such as UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, or information_schema in HTTP request parameters targeting plugin endpoints
- New or modified administrator accounts in the wp_users table without corresponding admin activity
- Anomalous outbound traffic from the web server following requests to registration endpoints
- Web server access logs showing repeated requests to plugin URLs with encoded SQL payloads
Detection Strategies
- Deploy web application firewall (WAF) rules that flag SQL metacharacters and known injection payloads in requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin-specific endpoints
- Enable MySQL general query logging temporarily to identify unexpected UNION or subquery patterns originating from the plugin
- Correlate authentication events with request patterns targeting registration endpoints to identify low-privilege accounts probing for injection
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor WordPress wp_users and wp_usermeta tables for unauthorized changes to roles and capabilities
- Alert on database errors emitted by the WordPress error log referencing the plugin's query paths
- Track file integrity of plugin files under wp-content/plugins/registrations-for-the-events-calendar/ to detect tampering
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-39638
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Registrations for the Events Calendar plugin to a version later than 2.12.2 once a patched release is confirmed by the vendor
- Audit WordPress user accounts and remove any unrecognized or unnecessary low-privilege accounts that could be used to authenticate for exploitation
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and database passwords if exploitation is suspected
- Review database contents for unauthorized modifications, especially wp_users, wp_usermeta, and wp_options
Patch Information
Refer to the Patchstack advisory for the current patch status and update to the fixed plugin release. Verify plugin version in the WordPress admin dashboard under Plugins after applying the update.
Workarounds
- Disable the Registrations for the Events Calendar plugin until a fixed version can be installed
- Restrict registration functionality to trusted authenticated users via role-based access controls
- Deploy a WAF ruleset that blocks SQL injection patterns targeting the plugin's known parameter names
- Apply the principle of least privilege to the MySQL user configured in wp-config.php, limiting it to necessary operations only
# Disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI until patched
wp plugin deactivate registrations-for-the-events-calendar
# Verify installed plugin version
wp plugin get registrations-for-the-events-calendar --field=version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
