CVE-2022-51021 WPDeveloper CVE debrief

Who should care

Defenders responsible for WordPress installations with the NotificationX plugin should assess exposure and prioritize patching. This includes operators, platform administrators, vulnerability management teams, and security teams who need to verify exposure and apply the vendor-provided patch to update to version 2.3.12 or later. They should also monitor for potential SQL injection attempts on the notification REST endpoint and review compensating controls.

Why it matters

The NotificationX WordPress Plugin before 2.3.12 is vulnerable to unauthenticated SQL injection, allowing remote attackers to manipulate database queries. Defenders should prioritize verifying exposure and applying the vendor-provided patch.

• Potential database content extraction
• Possible manipulation of database queries
• Unauthenticated access to sensitive data
• Verification of patch application required

Technical summary

The NotificationX plugin for WordPress before version 2.3.12 contains an unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability. The vulnerability is located in the notification REST endpoint and allows remote attackers to manipulate database queries by supplying a crafted 'id' parameter. The vulnerability can be exploited by passing id[1] with crafted SQL, such as time-based SLEEP payloads, along with an api_key derived from md5(home_url()). This vulnerability can lead to potential database content extraction and possible manipulation of database queries.

Defensive priority

Defenders should prioritize verifying exposure of NotificationX plugin versions before 2.3.12 and applying the vendor-provided patch.

Recommended defensive actions

• Verify exposure of NotificationX plugin versions before 2.3.12
• Apply the vendor-provided patch to update to version 2.3.12 or later
• Monitor for potential SQL injection attempts on the notification REST endpoint
• Review compensating controls for exposed systems while remediation is scheduled and verified
• Check relevant monitoring, detection, and logs for exposed assets that need extra review
• Track exceptions, retest remediated assets, and close the item only after evidence is documented
• Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up

Evidence notes

The vulnerability was first observed by the Shadowserver Foundation on 2023-10-18. The CVE record and source item provide details on the vulnerability, including the affected versions and potential impact.

Sources and references

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.