CVE-2024-13531 is an SQL Injection vulnerability identified in the ShipEngine Shipping Quotes plugin for WordPress, affecting all versions up to and including 1.0.7. The vulnerability arises from insufficient escaping and lack of proper preparation of the 'edit_id' parameter in SQL queries. This parameter is user-supplied and not properly sanitized, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to append arbitrary SQL commands to existing queries. The injection flaw enables attackers to extract sensitive data from the underlying database, compromising confidentiality without affecting integrity or availability. The vulnerability requires no authentication or user interaction, increasing its risk profile. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.5 reflects its high severity, with an attack vector of network (remote exploitation), low attack complexity, and no privileges required. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability's characteristics make it a prime candidate for exploitation, especially on WordPress sites that use this plugin for shipping quote functionalities. The plugin’s role in e-commerce workflows means that compromised data could include customer information, shipping details, or other sensitive business data. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-89, which pertains to improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands, a common and critical web application security issue.

The primary impact of CVE-2024-13531 is the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored in the database of affected WordPress sites using the ShipEngine Shipping Quotes plugin. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without authentication, potentially extracting customer data, shipping details, or other confidential business information. This can lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR, CCPA), reputational damage, and financial losses. Although the vulnerability does not directly affect data integrity or availability, the exposure of sensitive data alone can have severe consequences. Organizations relying on this plugin for shipping quotes in e-commerce environments are at particular risk. The ease of exploitation and the widespread use of WordPress in global markets amplify the threat. Additionally, attackers could use the extracted data for further attacks such as phishing, identity theft, or lateral movement within compromised networks.

To mitigate CVE-2024-13531, organizations should immediately update the ShipEngine Shipping Quotes plugin to a patched version once available. In the absence of an official patch, implement the following measures: 1) Restrict access to the vulnerable 'edit_id' parameter endpoint using web application firewalls (WAFs) with SQL injection detection and prevention rules tailored to block malicious payloads targeting this parameter. 2) Employ input validation and sanitization at the application level, ensuring that any user-supplied parameters are properly escaped or parameterized in SQL queries. 3) Limit database user privileges to the minimum necessary to reduce the impact of potential SQL injection attacks. 4) Monitor web server and database logs for unusual query patterns or repeated failed attempts to exploit SQL injection. 5) Consider temporarily disabling the plugin if it is not critical to business operations until a secure version is released. 6) Educate development and security teams about secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in custom or third-party plugins. These targeted actions will help reduce the risk of exploitation and protect sensitive data.