CVE-2024-13533 identifies a critical SQL Injection vulnerability in the Small Package Quotes – USPS Edition plugin for WordPress, present in all versions up to and including 1.3.5. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands, specifically due to insufficient escaping and lack of prepared statements for the 'edit_id' parameter. This parameter is user-supplied and not properly sanitized, allowing unauthenticated attackers to append arbitrary SQL queries to existing database commands. The injection can be exploited remotely over the network without any authentication or user interaction, enabling attackers to extract sensitive information from the backend database, such as user data, credentials, or configuration details. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.5, reflecting high severity with a vector indicating network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality impact but no impact on integrity or availability. No public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability's characteristics make it a prime target for exploitation once weaponized. The plugin is used in WordPress environments that provide shipping rate quotes for USPS small packages, often integrated into e-commerce or logistics workflows. The lack of patches or official fixes at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation.

The primary impact of this vulnerability is unauthorized disclosure of sensitive data stored in the WordPress site's database. Attackers can leverage the SQL Injection flaw to extract confidential information such as customer details, order histories, payment information, or administrative credentials. This can lead to data breaches, privacy violations, and potential compliance issues (e.g., GDPR, CCPA). Although the vulnerability does not directly affect data integrity or availability, the exposure of sensitive data can facilitate further attacks, including account takeover, phishing, or lateral movement within the affected network. Organizations relying on this plugin for shipping quotes may face reputational damage, financial losses, and operational disruptions if exploited. The ease of exploitation and unauthenticated access increases the risk of widespread attacks, especially on publicly accessible WordPress sites. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the threat landscape may evolve rapidly.

1. Immediate action should include disabling or removing the Small Package Quotes – USPS Edition plugin until a patched version is available. 2. Monitor official vendor channels and security advisories for updates or patches addressing CVE-2024-13533. 3. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block SQL Injection attempts targeting the 'edit_id' parameter. 4. Employ input validation and sanitization at the application level if custom code interacts with this plugin or its parameters. 5. Restrict database user permissions to the minimum necessary to limit data exposure in case of injection. 6. Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing focusing on WordPress plugins and their parameters. 7. Enable detailed logging and monitoring to detect anomalous database queries or access patterns. 8. Educate site administrators on the risks of installing unverified plugins and maintaining up-to-date software. 9. Consider isolating critical WordPress instances behind VPNs or access controls to reduce exposure. 10. Backup databases regularly to ensure recovery capability in case of compromise.