CVE-2024-49655: ARPrice WordPress Plugin SQLi Vulnerability

CVE-2024-49655 Overview

CVE-2024-49655 is an SQL Injection vulnerability discovered in the ARPrice WordPress plugin developed by reputeinfosystems. This vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate SQL queries through improper neutralization of special elements, potentially leading to unauthorized database access, data exfiltration, and complete compromise of the WordPress installation.

Critical Impact

Unauthenticated SQL Injection vulnerability allowing attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the WordPress database without requiring authentication.

Affected Products

• ARPrice WordPress Plugin versions through 4.1.3
• WordPress installations with ARPrice plugin active
• All ARPrice configurations prior to the security patch

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-01-21 - CVE CVE-2024-49655 published to NVD
• 2026-04-01 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-49655

Vulnerability Analysis

This SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) exists within the ARPrice WordPress plugin due to insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL queries. The vulnerability is particularly severe because it can be exploited without authentication, allowing any remote attacker to interact with the database directly.

WordPress plugins that fail to properly sanitize input before database operations create significant security risks. In this case, the ARPrice plugin processes user input in a way that allows SQL metacharacters to be interpreted as part of the query structure rather than as data values.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability is the improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. The ARPrice plugin fails to adequately sanitize or parameterize user-controlled input before passing it to database query functions. This allows attackers to inject malicious SQL syntax that modifies the intended query logic, potentially enabling them to:

• Extract sensitive data from the WordPress database
• Modify or delete database records
• Bypass authentication mechanisms
• Potentially escalate to remote code execution depending on database configuration

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is through specially crafted HTTP requests to the WordPress installation. Since this is an unauthenticated SQL Injection vulnerability, attackers do not need valid credentials to exploit it. The malicious payload is submitted through plugin endpoints that process the input without proper sanitization, allowing the injected SQL to be executed against the database.

Attackers can leverage techniques such as UNION-based injection, error-based injection, or blind SQL injection to extract data or manipulate the database, depending on the specific vulnerable endpoint and database configuration.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-49655

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual database query patterns or errors in WordPress/web server logs
• Unexpected SQL syntax errors appearing in application logs
• Evidence of data extraction attempts through verbose error messages
• Anomalous traffic patterns to ARPrice plugin endpoints

Detection Strategies

• Monitor web application firewall (WAF) logs for SQL injection attack patterns targeting WordPress plugins
• Implement database query auditing to detect suspicious query structures
• Review access logs for requests containing SQL metacharacters such as single quotes, UNION statements, or comment sequences
• Deploy intrusion detection signatures for common SQL injection payloads

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable verbose logging for WordPress database operations during the remediation period
• Configure alerts for failed SQL query attempts that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Monitor for unusual database read operations, especially bulk data extraction patterns
• Implement real-time security monitoring for WordPress installations using the ARPrice plugin

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-49655

Immediate Actions Required

• Update the ARPrice plugin to the latest patched version immediately
• If updates are not available, deactivate and remove the ARPrice plugin until a fix is released
• Review database logs for signs of exploitation
• Consider implementing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with SQL injection protection rules
• Audit WordPress user accounts for unauthorized access or privilege changes

Patch Information

Organizations using ARPrice should consult the Patchstack WordPress Vulnerability Report for detailed information about available patches and remediation guidance. Ensure all WordPress installations are updated to patched versions of the ARPrice plugin as soon as they become available.

Workarounds

• Temporarily disable the ARPrice plugin if a patch is not yet available
• Implement WAF rules to block common SQL injection patterns targeting the affected endpoints
• Restrict access to the WordPress admin panel and plugin endpoints via IP allowlisting
• Enable WordPress's built-in database query logging to detect exploitation attempts
• Consider using a WordPress security plugin with SQL injection protection capabilities

# Example WordPress plugin deactivation via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate arprice --path=/var/www/html/wordpress

# Verify plugin is deactivated
wp plugin list --status=inactive --path=/var/www/html/wordpress