CVE-2024-51620: Porsline Plugin SQL Injection Flaw

CVE-2024-51620 Overview

CVE-2024-51620 is a blind SQL injection vulnerability in the Porsline WordPress plugin. The flaw affects all versions of Porsline up to and including 1.0.2. Attackers with low-privileged authenticated access can send crafted input that the plugin passes into SQL queries without proper neutralization of special characters [CWE-89].

The vulnerability is network-exploitable and requires no user interaction. Successful exploitation compromises the confidentiality of the WordPress database and can degrade site availability. The scope is changed, meaning the impact extends beyond the vulnerable component to other resources managed by the database server.

Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers can extract sensitive data from the WordPress database, including user credentials, session tokens, and site configuration, through blind SQL injection payloads.

Affected Products

Porsline WordPress plugin versions from n/a through 1.0.2
WordPress sites with the Porsline survey plugin installed and activated
Any hosting environment running the affected plugin regardless of underlying WordPress core version

Discovery Timeline

2024-11-09 - CVE-2024-51620 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-51620

Vulnerability Analysis

The Porsline plugin fails to properly neutralize special elements used in SQL commands. User-supplied input reaches SQL query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. This allows attackers to inject additional SQL syntax into queries executed by the WordPress database backend.

The issue manifests as a blind SQL injection. Query results are not returned directly to the attacker in HTTP responses. Instead, attackers infer data by observing conditional application behavior or time-based response deltas. Blind SQL injection is slower than in-band injection but equally effective for exfiltrating database contents.

Exploitation requires low-privilege authenticated access, meaning any authenticated WordPress user role can attempt the attack. The changed scope indicates the vulnerable code executes with database privileges that reach beyond the plugin's own data.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper input neutralization in SQL query construction within the Porsline plugin codebase. Input values from plugin endpoints are concatenated into SQL statements rather than passed as bound parameters through the WordPress $wpdb->prepare() API. This pattern is the canonical trigger for [CWE-89] SQL injection.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based. An authenticated attacker submits HTTP requests to plugin endpoints containing injected SQL payloads in vulnerable parameters. Because the vulnerability is blind, attackers typically use boolean-based or time-based techniques such as AND SLEEP(5) conditions or CASE WHEN clauses to enumerate database contents one bit at a time.

Refer to the Patchstack SQL Injection Vulnerability advisory for the specific vulnerable parameter and endpoint details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-51620

Indicators of Compromise

HTTP requests to Porsline plugin endpoints containing SQL keywords such as UNION, SELECT, SLEEP, BENCHMARK, or CASE WHEN in parameter values
Repeated authenticated requests with incremental payload variations, indicating automated blind SQLi enumeration tools such as sqlmap
Anomalous database response latency correlated with requests to Porsline endpoints, suggesting time-based blind injection
Unusual wp_users or wp_options table access patterns from the web application user

Detection Strategies

Deploy web application firewall rules that identify SQL injection signatures in requests targeting /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php and Porsline plugin routes
Enable WordPress database query logging and alert on queries containing suspicious concatenated syntax originating from plugin code paths
Correlate authenticated session activity with database error rates to surface probing attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor authenticated user request rates and payload entropy against Porsline endpoints for anomalies consistent with automated tools
Log and review all HTTP 500 responses from the plugin, since SQL syntax errors during payload development often generate server errors
Track outbound data volume from the database host to identify large-scale extraction attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-51620

Immediate Actions Required

Update the Porsline plugin to a version later than 1.0.2 as soon as the vendor publishes a fix
Deactivate and remove the Porsline plugin if a patched release is not yet available and the survey functionality is not business-critical
Audit WordPress user accounts and rotate credentials for any account that could have accessed the vulnerable endpoints
Review database audit logs for evidence of enumeration or data exfiltration since the plugin was installed

Patch Information

Consult the Patchstack advisory for the Porsline plugin for current patch availability. At the time of publication, the advisory documents the vulnerability through version 1.0.2 with no fixed version listed in NVD.

Workarounds

Restrict access to the WordPress admin interface using IP allowlisting at the web server or WAF layer to reduce the attacker population
Deploy virtual patching through a WAF such as Patchstack, Wordfence, or ModSecurity with rules that block SQL injection payloads targeting Porsline endpoints
Apply the principle of least privilege to the WordPress database user, limiting FILE, EXECUTE, and cross-database privileges where possible

bash

# Example ModSecurity rule to block common blind SQLi payloads on Porsline endpoints
SecRule REQUEST_URI "@contains porsline" \
    "id:1005162,phase:2,deny,status:403,log,\
    msg:'Blocked potential CVE-2024-51620 SQLi attempt',\
    chain"
    SecRule ARGS "@rx (?i)(union\s+select|sleep\s*\(|benchmark\s*\(|case\s+when)" \
        "t:none,t:urlDecodeUni"