CVE-2024-1206 is a SQL Injection vulnerability identified in the WP Recipe Maker plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 9.1.2. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in the 'recipes' parameter, which is insufficiently escaped and lacks the use of prepared SQL statements. This flaw allows an authenticated attacker with subscriber-level access or higher to append arbitrary SQL queries to existing database queries. As a result, attackers can extract sensitive information, modify database contents, or disrupt database availability. The vulnerability does not require user interaction and can be exploited remotely over the network. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with low attack complexity and only requiring low privileges. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of this plugin increase the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability was reserved on February 2, 2024, and published on February 20, 2024, with no official patches released at the time of this report.

The impact of CVE-2024-1206 is significant for organizations using the WP Recipe Maker plugin. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data stored in the WordPress database, including user information, site configuration, and potentially other plugin or core data. Attackers may also modify or delete data, causing integrity and availability issues that could disrupt website functionality or lead to data loss. Since the vulnerability requires only subscriber-level authentication, it lowers the barrier for exploitation, increasing the risk from insider threats or compromised low-privilege accounts. The lack of user interaction and network accessibility further broadens the attack surface. Organizations relying on this plugin for content management or e-commerce may face reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and operational disruptions if exploited.

To mitigate CVE-2024-1206, organizations should immediately restrict subscriber-level user capabilities to the minimum necessary, monitoring for suspicious activity related to the 'recipes' parameter. Implementing Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block SQL injection patterns targeting this parameter can provide temporary protection. Administrators should audit user accounts to remove or limit unnecessary subscriber access. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling the WP Recipe Maker plugin if feasible or replacing it with alternative plugins that do not have this vulnerability. Additionally, database activity monitoring and logging should be enhanced to detect anomalous queries. Once a vendor patch is available, it should be applied promptly. Developers maintaining custom integrations with this plugin should review and sanitize all inputs rigorously and adopt prepared statements to prevent injection.