CVE-2020-11548
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability in the Search Meter WordPress plugin allows CSV formula injection through user search input. When an administrator exports search data, malicious formulas can execute arbitrary code on the server. WordPress sites using vulnerable Search Meter plugin versions are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress Search Meter plugin
📦 What is this software?
Search Meter by Search Meter Project
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to complete server compromise, data theft, and persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Server compromise through command execution, potentially leading to website defacement, data exfiltration, or malware deployment.
If Mitigated
Limited impact if proper input validation and output sanitization are implemented, though some data exposure may still occur.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires administrator to export CSV data after attacker submits malicious search input.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 2.13.3 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://wordpress.org/plugins/search-meter/#developers
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find Search Meter plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available. 5. Alternatively, download latest version from WordPress plugin repository and replace files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Search Meter plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched.
wp plugin deactivate search-meter
Restrict admin export access
allLimit access to wp-admin/index.php?page=search-meter export functionality.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable the Search Meter plugin immediately
- Implement web application firewall rules to block CSV formula injection attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Search Meter version. If version is 2.13.2 or earlier, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get search-meter --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm Search Meter plugin version is 2.13.3 or later in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual search queries containing formula syntax (=, +, -, @)
- Multiple failed export attempts from admin panel
- CSV export files with unusual content
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to wp-admin/index.php with page=search-meter parameter
- CSV file downloads containing formula characters
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("page=search-meter" OR "search-meter export") AND ("=" OR "+" OR "-" OR "@")