CVE-2022-1453 is a critical SQL Injection vulnerability affecting the RSVPMaker plugin for WordPress, developed by davidfcarr. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands (CWE-89) due to missing SQL escaping and lack of parameterization on user-supplied input within the rsvpmaker-util.php file. This flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious SQL queries directly into the database. Since the vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction, an attacker can remotely exploit it by sending crafted requests to a vulnerable WordPress site running RSVPMaker version 9.2.5 or earlier. Successful exploitation can lead to full compromise of the database confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Attackers can extract sensitive information such as user data, credentials, or other stored content, modify or delete data, or potentially escalate privileges within the application. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the high impact and ease of exploitation, with network attack vector, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. Despite no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, the vulnerability represents a severe risk to any WordPress site using RSVPMaker, especially those publicly accessible on the internet. The lack of available patches at the time further increases exposure. Organizations relying on RSVPMaker for event management or RSVP functionalities should urgently assess their exposure and apply mitigations.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality and integrity of their data hosted on WordPress sites using RSVPMaker. Given the plugin's role in managing event registrations and potentially storing personal identifiable information (PII) of attendees, exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, violating GDPR requirements and resulting in regulatory penalties. Additionally, attackers could manipulate or delete event data, disrupting business operations and damaging reputation. The critical severity and unauthenticated remote exploitability mean that attackers can easily target vulnerable sites, including those of small and medium enterprises, non-profits, and public sector organizations that often use WordPress for web presence. The impact extends to availability if attackers perform destructive actions on the database. The breach of sensitive data could also facilitate further attacks such as phishing or identity theft. European organizations must consider the legal and operational consequences of such a compromise, especially in sectors handling sensitive customer or citizen data.

Immediate mitigation steps include: 1) Identify all WordPress instances using the RSVPMaker plugin and determine the version in use. 2) If a patch or updated version addressing CVE-2022-1453 is released, apply it promptly. 3) In the absence of an official patch, temporarily disable or uninstall the RSVPMaker plugin to eliminate exposure. 4) Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block common SQL injection patterns targeting RSVPMaker endpoints, focusing on the rsvpmaker-util.php file. 5) Restrict access to the WordPress admin and plugin files via IP whitelisting or VPN where feasible. 6) Conduct thorough security audits and database integrity checks to detect any signs of compromise. 7) Monitor logs for suspicious requests indicative of SQL injection attempts. 8) Educate site administrators on the risks and encourage regular plugin updates and security hygiene. 9) Consider deploying database-level protections such as least privilege accounts and query parameterization where possible. These measures collectively reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage until a secure plugin update is applied.