CVE-2024-11460 is an SQL Injection vulnerability classified under CWE-89 affecting the Verowa Connect plugin for WordPress, versions up to and including 3.0.1. The root cause is insufficient escaping and lack of prepared statements for the 'search_string' parameter in SQL queries. This allows an unauthenticated attacker to append arbitrary SQL commands to existing queries, enabling unauthorized data extraction from the backend database. The vulnerability does not require any authentication or user interaction, making it remotely exploitable over the network with low attack complexity. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.5 (high), reflecting the high confidentiality impact but no integrity or availability impact. No patches have been published yet, and no known exploits are reported in the wild. The plugin is used in WordPress sites, which are widely deployed globally, increasing the potential attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for proper input validation, escaping, and use of parameterized queries in web applications to prevent injection attacks.

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored in the WordPress site's database, such as user credentials, personal data, or configuration details. This can result in data breaches, privacy violations, and potential further attacks leveraging stolen data. Since the attack requires no authentication and no user interaction, any publicly accessible WordPress site running the vulnerable plugin is at risk. The confidentiality impact is high, but the integrity and availability of the system are not directly affected. Organizations relying on Verowa Connect for critical business functions or handling sensitive customer data face significant reputational and compliance risks if exploited. Additionally, attackers could use the extracted data to escalate privileges or conduct further targeted attacks.

Until an official patch is released, organizations should implement the following mitigations: 1) Immediately disable or remove the Verowa Connect plugin from WordPress sites if it is not essential. 2) Restrict access to the vulnerable 'search_string' functionality by implementing web application firewall (WAF) rules that detect and block typical SQL injection payloads targeting this parameter. 3) Employ input validation and sanitization at the application or proxy level to reject suspicious input patterns. 4) Monitor web server and database logs for unusual query patterns or error messages indicative of injection attempts. 5) Keep WordPress core and all plugins updated and subscribe to vendor advisories for timely patch deployment once available. 6) Conduct security audits and penetration tests focusing on injection vulnerabilities in custom or third-party plugins. 7) Consider isolating the WordPress environment and limiting database user privileges to minimize data exposure in case of compromise.