The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-13485 affects the WordPress plugin LTL Freight Quotes – ABF Freight Edition, versions up to and including 3.3.7. It is an SQL Injection flaw categorized under CWE-89, caused by improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands. Specifically, the plugin fails to adequately sanitize the 'edit_id' and 'dropship_edit_id' parameters, which are user-supplied inputs incorporated into SQL queries without sufficient escaping or prepared statements. This allows an unauthenticated attacker to append arbitrary SQL code to existing queries. The injection occurs over the network without requiring authentication or user interaction, increasing the attack surface. The vulnerability can be exploited to extract sensitive information from the backend database, compromising confidentiality. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.5, reflecting high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and no user interaction needed. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the flaw's nature makes it a prime target for attackers seeking to access sensitive freight and shipping data managed by the plugin. The absence of a patch at the time of reporting necessitates immediate defensive measures.

The primary impact of this vulnerability is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data stored in the backend database of affected WordPress sites using the LTL Freight Quotes – ABF Freight Edition plugin. Attackers can leverage the SQL Injection to extract confidential information such as customer details, shipping records, pricing data, and potentially credentials if stored in the same database. This breach of confidentiality can lead to financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties for organizations handling freight logistics. Since the vulnerability does not affect data integrity or availability directly, attackers cannot modify or delete data or cause denial of service via this flaw. However, the ease of exploitation without authentication or user interaction significantly raises the risk profile. Organizations worldwide relying on this plugin for freight quoting and logistics management are vulnerable, especially those with sensitive or regulated data. The vulnerability could also serve as a foothold for further attacks if attackers combine it with other vulnerabilities or lateral movement techniques.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on restricting access to the vulnerable parameters by implementing web application firewall (WAF) rules that detect and block SQL Injection patterns targeting 'edit_id' and 'dropship_edit_id'. 2. Limit exposure by restricting access to the plugin’s administrative or API endpoints to trusted IP addresses or via VPN. 3. Monitor database logs and application logs for unusual or suspicious SQL queries that may indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Encourage the vendor to release a patch that properly sanitizes inputs using parameterized queries or prepared statements and apply the patch as soon as it becomes available. 5. In the interim, consider disabling or removing the plugin if it is not critical to operations. 6. Conduct a thorough security review of all third-party plugins, especially those handling sensitive data, to identify and remediate similar injection risks. 7. Educate developers and administrators on secure coding and input validation best practices to prevent recurrence. 8. Employ intrusion detection systems (IDS) with signatures for SQL Injection to alert on potential exploitation attempts.