CVE-2024-49244 Overview
CVE-2024-49244 is an SQL injection vulnerability in the vrinsoft CSV Product Import Export for WooCommerce WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 1.0.0. An authenticated attacker with low privileges can inject arbitrary SQL statements through unsanitized input passed to database queries. Successful exploitation exposes sensitive database contents and enables scope changes beyond the vulnerable component. 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 WooCommerce database, exposing customer records, order data, and credentials.
Affected Products
- vrinsoft CSV Product Import Export for WooCommerce plugin
- Plugin slug: csv-wc-product-import-export
- Versions from n/a through <= 1.0.0
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-10-17 - CVE-2024-49244 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-49244
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands within the csv-wc-product-import-export plugin. User-controlled input reaches SQL query construction without parameterization or escaping through WordPress database sanitization functions such as $wpdb->prepare(). An attacker with low-privilege authentication can supply crafted values that alter the intended query logic.
Exploitation impacts confidentiality of the underlying WooCommerce store data. The scope change indicator means the injected query can affect resources beyond the plugin itself, including shared database tables used by WordPress core and other plugins. Integrity impact is not observed, but limited availability impact is present, likely through query-based denial conditions.
Root Cause
The plugin concatenates request parameters directly into SQL statements executed against the WordPress database. Missing input validation and absent use of prepared statements allow injected operators, UNION clauses, or subqueries to alter query semantics. This is a textbook CWE-89 pattern in a WordPress plugin context.
Attack Vector
Exploitation occurs over the network against WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin. The attacker must hold an authenticated session with low privileges, such as a subscriber or customer account. No user interaction is required. Attackers typically deliver payloads through plugin admin actions or AJAX endpoints that accept import parameters. Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory for advisory details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-49244
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, or information_schema substrings in web server access logs targeting plugin endpoints
- Anomalous WordPress database queries originating from low-privilege user sessions
- New or modified wp_users entries and unexplained reads against wp_options containing secrets
- Outbound requests from the web server following suspicious plugin request bursts
Detection Strategies
- Deploy a web application firewall rule set to identify SQL metacharacters in requests to wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin-specific paths
- Enable MySQL general query logging on staging or forensic replicas and search for queries that reference plugin tables with suspicious operators
- Correlate authenticated session IDs with query patterns to identify low-privilege accounts issuing administrative-scoped queries
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on HTTP 500 responses tied to plugin endpoints, which often accompany failed injection attempts
- Track file integrity of the csv-wc-product-import-export plugin directory for unauthorized modification
- Monitor for privilege changes on WordPress accounts occurring within minutes of plugin request activity
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-49244
Immediate Actions Required
- Disable the csv-wc-product-import-export plugin until a vendor patch supersedes version 1.0.0
- Audit all WordPress accounts and revoke unnecessary low-privilege access to reduce the authenticated attacker pool
- Rotate database credentials and WordPress secret keys in wp-config.php if exploitation is suspected
- Review the wp_users table for unauthorized administrator accounts created after October 2024
Patch Information
No fixed version was identified at the time of publication. The advisory lists all releases through 1.0.0 as vulnerable. Monitor the Patchstack SQL Injection Advisory and the vendor's plugin listing for update availability.
Workarounds
- Remove the plugin from production sites and use a maintained alternative for WooCommerce product imports
- Restrict access to WordPress registration and low-privilege authentication endpoints via IP allowlisting where feasible
- Apply virtual patching through a WAF rule that blocks SQL syntax in parameters submitted to the plugin's endpoints
# Configuration example: disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate csv-wc-product-import-export
wp plugin delete csv-wc-product-import-export
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
