CVE-2024-7607 Overview
CVE-2024-7607 is a time-based SQL injection vulnerability in the Front End Users plugin for WordPress developed by Etoilewebdesign. The flaw exists in all versions up to and including 3.2.28. The plugin fails to escape the order parameter and does not properly prepare the underlying SQL query. Authenticated attackers with Contributor-level access or higher can append arbitrary SQL statements to existing queries. Successful exploitation allows extraction of sensitive information from the WordPress database, including credentials, session tokens, and personally identifiable information stored in wp_users and related tables.
Critical Impact
Authenticated attackers with Contributor privileges can execute arbitrary SQL queries against the WordPress database, exposing user credentials and site configuration data.
Affected Products
- Etoilewebdesign Front End Users plugin for WordPress, all versions ≤ 3.2.28
- WordPress installations with the front-end-only-users plugin activated
- Sites permitting Contributor-level registration or open registration flows
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-08-29 - CVE-2024-7607 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-7607
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in the UsersPage.php component of the Front End Users plugin. The plugin accepts an order parameter from user input and concatenates it directly into a SQL query used to render the users listing page. Because the parameter is neither sanitized nor bound through prepared statements, an attacker can inject SQL fragments that alter query semantics.
The injection is exploitable as time-based blind SQL injection, meaning attackers infer data by measuring response delays introduced through payloads such as SLEEP() or conditional timing functions. This technique works even when query results are not directly reflected in the response body. Data extraction targets typically include the wp_users, wp_usermeta, and wp_options tables, where administrator password hashes and secret keys reside. The weakness is classified under CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient escaping combined with an absent use of $wpdb->prepare(). The order parameter is inserted into the ORDER BY clause without whitelist validation. ORDER BY clauses cannot be parameterized in MySQL, so developers must validate values against an allowlist. The plugin skipped this control, permitting arbitrary SQL to reach the database.
Attack Vector
An authenticated user sends a crafted HTTP request to a page rendered by the plugin. The order parameter carries a payload such as a subquery containing SLEEP() or BENCHMARK(). The plugin appends the payload to its user listing query. The database engine executes the injected fragment, and the attacker measures response times to enumerate the database schema and exfiltrate values one bit at a time. See the Wordfence Vulnerability Analysis and the WordPress Plugin Code Reference for the affected code paths.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7607
Indicators of Compromise
- HTTP requests to pages served by the Front End Users plugin containing SQL keywords such as SLEEP, BENCHMARK, UNION, or SELECT in the order parameter
- Web server access logs showing repeated requests to the same endpoint with incrementally changing order values, consistent with blind extraction
- Database slow query log entries referencing the plugin's user listing query with unusually long execution times
Detection Strategies
- Deploy WAF rules that inspect the order query-string parameter for SQL metacharacters and function names on WordPress endpoints
- Alert on authenticated Contributor or Subscriber sessions generating unusual volumes of GET requests to plugin-served pages
- Correlate MySQL query execution times with source IP addresses to identify time-based injection patterns
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable the MySQL slow query log with a threshold of one second and forward entries to a centralized logging system
- Track WordPress audit events for user role assignments and new Contributor-level account creations
- Baseline normal request timing for plugin endpoints and alert on sustained latency deviations
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7607
Immediate Actions Required
- Update the Front End Users plugin to a version above 3.2.28 that includes the fix committed in WordPress Changeset 3142978
- Audit all Contributor, Author, and higher-privileged accounts and remove those not required
- Rotate WordPress administrator passwords, secret keys in wp-config.php, and any API tokens stored in the database if exploitation is suspected
Patch Information
The vendor addressed the vulnerability in the changeset published at plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3142978. The fix introduces proper parameter validation on the order value before it is used in the SQL query. Administrators should apply the update through the WordPress plugin dashboard or via WP-CLI.
Workarounds
- Disable the Front End Users plugin until the patched version is installed
- Restrict registration and demote existing Contributor accounts to Subscriber where practical to reduce the attacker pool
- Deploy a WAF rule that blocks requests where the order parameter contains characters outside [A-Za-z_] on pages served by the plugin
# Example WP-CLI commands to update the plugin and audit users
wp plugin update front-end-only-users
wp user list --role=contributor --fields=ID,user_login,user_registered
wp plugin deactivate front-end-only-users # temporary workaround if patch cannot be applied
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
