CVE-2024-2344
📋 TL;DR
The Avada WordPress theme contains a SQL injection vulnerability in the 'entry' parameter that allows authenticated attackers with editor-level permissions or higher to execute arbitrary SQL queries. This can lead to extraction of sensitive database information like user credentials, personal data, or site content. Only WordPress sites using vulnerable versions of the Avada theme are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Avada WordPress Theme
📦 What is this software?
Avada by Theme Fusion
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Attackers could extract the entire WordPress database including user credentials, personal information, and sensitive site data, potentially leading to complete site compromise and data breach.
Likely Case
Attackers with editor access could extract user data, modify content, or escalate privileges by accessing administrative credentials from the database.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls limiting editor permissions and network segmentation, impact would be limited to data accessible by legitimate editor accounts.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but SQL injection is straightforward once access is obtained.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 7.11.7 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://avada.com/documentation/avada-changelog/
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Appearance > Themes. 3. Check for Avada theme updates. 4. Update to version 7.11.7 or later. 5. Clear any caching plugins.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Editor Permissions
allTemporarily reduce editor-level user accounts or implement stricter access controls until patching is complete.
Web Application Firewall Rules
allImplement WAF rules to block SQL injection patterns targeting the 'entry' parameter.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict principle of least privilege for all user accounts
- Deploy web application firewall with SQL injection protection rules
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Appearance > Themes > Avada theme details for version number.Check Version:
WordPress does not have a CLI command; check via admin panel or inspect theme files for version information.Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm Avada theme version is 7.11.7 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual SQL queries in WordPress or database logs
- Multiple failed login attempts followed by editor-level access
- Unexpected database queries containing UNION, SELECT, or other SQL injection patterns
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to WordPress admin URLs with SQL payloads in parameters
- Unusual database connection patterns from web server
SIEM Query:
web.url:*wp-admin* AND (web.param:*UNION* OR web.param:*SELECT* OR web.param:*entry=*)🔗 References
- https://avada.com/documentation/avada-changelog/
- https://gist.github.com/Xib3rR4dAr/05a32f63d75082ab05de27e313e70fa3
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/ccf0d2ca-2891-45d1-8ea2-90dd435b359f?source=cve
- https://avada.com/documentation/avada-changelog/
- https://gist.github.com/Xib3rR4dAr/05a32f63d75082ab05de27e313e70fa3
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/ccf0d2ca-2891-45d1-8ea2-90dd435b359f?source=cve
