CVE-2024-49616 Overview
CVE-2024-49616 is a blind SQL injection vulnerability affecting the nyasro Rate Own Post WordPress plugin. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands [CWE-89]. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can inject arbitrary SQL statements through vulnerable plugin parameters. The vulnerability affects all versions of Rate Own Post up to and including 1.0. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to database contents, modification of stored data, and disruption of database availability.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the WordPress database, leading to data theft, integrity loss, and potential site takeover.
Affected Products
- nyasro Rate Own Post plugin for WordPress
- Rate Own Post versions from n/a through 1.0
- WordPress sites with the rate-own-post plugin installed and activated
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-10-20 - CVE-2024-49616 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-49616
Vulnerability Analysis
The Rate Own Post plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This allows attackers to break out of the intended SQL query context and append malicious SQL payloads. Because the injection is blind, the application does not directly return query results in the HTTP response. Attackers instead infer database contents through boolean-based or time-based inference techniques.
The attack requires network access to the WordPress site and authenticated privileges at the contributor level or above. No user interaction is required beyond the attacker's own requests. Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying database.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or insufficient input validation and the absence of prepared statements or parameterized queries in the plugin's database access code. User-controlled data flows directly into SQL query strings through concatenation. Standard WordPress database APIs such as $wpdb->prepare() were not consistently applied to filter special SQL metacharacters.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker submits crafted input to a vulnerable plugin endpoint that accepts rating-related parameters. The malicious payload contains SQL metacharacters and control statements that alter the intended query structure. Because the response does not echo query output, attackers use inference-based payloads such as conditional SLEEP() calls or boolean tautologies to extract data one bit at a time.
The vulnerability manifests in plugin request handlers that process rating submissions. See the Patchstack SQL Injection Vulnerability advisory for additional technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-49616
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP POST or GET requests to plugin endpoints containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP(, BENCHMARK(, or information_schema
- Unusually long response times on requests targeting the rate-own-post plugin, suggesting time-based blind injection
- Repeated authenticated requests from a single account to plugin URLs with varying payload lengths
- Database error entries or unexpected query patterns in MySQL slow query logs originating from plugin code paths
Detection Strategies
- Deploy a web application firewall rule set that inspects request parameters for SQL injection signatures targeting WordPress plugin routes
- Enable WordPress query logging and correlate suspicious queries with authenticated user sessions
- Monitor for anomalous authenticated activity from contributor and author accounts interacting with the plugin
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on repeated authenticated requests containing SQL metacharacters directed at the rate-own-post plugin
- Baseline normal request duration for plugin endpoints and flag requests exceeding the baseline by significant margins
- Track new or dormant WordPress user accounts that suddenly submit rating-related requests at high volume
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-49616
Immediate Actions Required
- Deactivate and remove the Rate Own Post plugin from any WordPress installation until a patched version is confirmed
- Audit WordPress user accounts and revoke unnecessary contributor-level or higher privileges
- Review database logs for evidence of prior exploitation, including unexpected SELECT statements against wp_users or wp_options
Patch Information
At the time of publication, no vendor patch is referenced in the available advisories. Administrators should monitor the Patchstack advisory for updated version guidance and remove the plugin in the interim.
Workarounds
- Remove the rate-own-post plugin directory from wp-content/plugins/ to eliminate the attack surface
- Restrict contributor and author account creation and require strong authentication for existing accounts
- Deploy a WordPress-aware web application firewall to block SQL injection payloads targeting plugin endpoints
- Enforce least-privilege database credentials so the WordPress database user cannot access sensitive tables outside its scope
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
