CVE-2024-11269 is a high-severity SQL Injection vulnerability identified in the AHAthat Plugin for WordPress, affecting versions through 1.6. The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to properly sanitize and escape a parameter before incorporating it into a SQL query. This flaw allows an attacker with administrative privileges to inject malicious SQL code, potentially manipulating the database directly. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89, which pertains to improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands. Exploitation requires administrative access to the WordPress backend, meaning the attacker must already have elevated privileges. Once exploited, the attacker could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the underlying database by reading sensitive data, modifying or deleting records, or causing denial of service. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.2, reflecting a high severity due to the network attack vector, low attack complexity, required privileges being high, no user interaction, and full impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No public exploits are currently known in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability is significant because WordPress is widely used across Europe, and plugins like AHAthat are commonly installed to extend site functionality. The lack of input sanitization is a classic and critical security oversight that can lead to severe database compromise if exploited by a malicious administrator or if an attacker escalates privileges to admin level.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the AHAthat Plugin installed, this vulnerability poses a serious risk. An attacker with admin access could leverage the SQL injection to extract sensitive customer data, alter website content, or disrupt services by corrupting the database. This could lead to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. The integrity of business-critical content and transactional data could be compromised, affecting trust and operational continuity. Additionally, the availability of the website could be impacted if the database is manipulated or damaged, causing downtime and loss of revenue. Since the vulnerability requires admin privileges, the impact is contingent on the security of administrative accounts; however, insider threats or compromised admin credentials could enable exploitation. European organizations with e-commerce, government, or critical infrastructure websites using this plugin are particularly at risk due to the sensitive nature of their data and the potential cascading effects of a breach.

1. Immediately audit all WordPress installations for the presence of the AHAthat Plugin and identify versions through 1.6. 2. Restrict administrative access strictly to trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or uninstalling the AHAthat Plugin to eliminate the attack surface. 4. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules that detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the plugin’s parameters. 5. Monitor database logs and WordPress activity logs for unusual queries or administrative actions that could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Educate administrators about the risks of SQL injection and the importance of secure plugin management. 7. Once a patch is available, apply it promptly and verify the fix through testing. 8. Regularly update all WordPress plugins and core installations to minimize exposure to known vulnerabilities. 9. Conduct periodic security assessments and penetration tests focusing on plugin vulnerabilities and privilege escalation paths.