CVE-2024-50544 Overview
CVE-2024-50544 is a SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the MicahBlu RSVP ME plugin for WordPress. The flaw stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in an SQL command [CWE-89]. All plugin versions up to and including 1.9.9 are affected. Authenticated attackers with low privileges can inject arbitrary SQL statements through the vulnerable input paths exposed by the plugin. Successful exploitation leads to unauthorized access to database contents and can affect availability of the backend datastore. The scope of the vulnerability is changed, meaning exploitation impacts resources beyond the vulnerable component itself.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the WordPress database, exposing sensitive site and user data.
Affected Products
- MicahBlu RSVP ME WordPress plugin (rsvp-me)
- All versions from initial release through 1.9.9
- WordPress sites running the vulnerable plugin
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-11-09 - CVE-2024-50544 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-50544
Vulnerability Analysis
The RSVP ME plugin fails to properly sanitize or parameterize user-supplied input before incorporating it into SQL queries. This classic SQL Injection weakness allows attackers to alter query logic and access or manipulate database rows outside the intended scope. Because the CVSS scope is changed, injected queries can influence resources beyond the plugin itself, such as core WordPress tables containing user credentials and session data.
The attack requires network access and low-privilege authentication, but no user interaction. Exploitation yields high confidentiality impact and low availability impact, while integrity is not directly affected according to the published CVSS vector.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands [CWE-89]. The plugin concatenates untrusted parameters directly into SQL statements without using prepared statements or WordPress's $wpdb->prepare() API. This gap allows metacharacters such as single quotes, comment sequences, and UNION operators to alter query structure.
Attack Vector
An authenticated attacker submits crafted parameters to a vulnerable plugin endpoint. The malicious payload breaks out of the intended SQL context and appends attacker-controlled clauses. Depending on the query type, the attacker can extract data via UNION-based, boolean-based, or time-based blind techniques. Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Analysis for the specific vulnerable parameter details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-50544
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected UNION SELECT, SLEEP(, or INFORMATION_SCHEMA fragments in WordPress access logs targeting rsvp-me endpoints.
- Anomalous authenticated requests from low-privilege user accounts to plugin URLs containing encoded SQL metacharacters.
- Sudden growth in database query execution time correlated with requests to RSVP ME plugin routes.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect web server logs for suspicious query strings and POST bodies referencing rsvp-me handlers.
- Enable WordPress database query logging and alert on queries originating from plugin code that contain unparameterized concatenation.
- Deploy a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with signatures for common SQL Injection payloads applied to plugin endpoints.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor authentication events for unusual activity from subscriber and contributor accounts that interact with RSVP ME.
- Alert on outbound data transfer spikes from the WordPress host that may indicate database exfiltration.
- Track file integrity of plugin files and WordPress core to detect follow-on tampering.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-50544
Immediate Actions Required
- Disable or remove the RSVP ME plugin until a patched release is confirmed available and installed.
- Rotate WordPress administrator credentials and any secrets that could be reachable through the database.
- Review wp_users, wp_usermeta, and plugin-specific tables for unauthorized modifications.
Patch Information
At the time of publication, the vendor advisory reports the vulnerability affects RSVP ME versions up to and including 1.9.9. Administrators should consult the Patchstack SQL Injection Analysis and the WordPress plugin repository for the latest fixed release before re-enabling the plugin.
Workarounds
- Restrict access to the WordPress admin area using IP allowlists to limit which authenticated users can reach vulnerable endpoints.
- Deploy WAF rules that block SQL Injection payloads targeting /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and plugin-specific routes.
- Enforce least-privilege database credentials for the WordPress site so the application user cannot read tables outside its scope.
# Example: temporarily disable the vulnerable plugin via WP-CLI
wp plugin deactivate rsvp-me
wp plugin delete rsvp-me
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
