CVE-2024-5207 identifies a time-based SQL Injection vulnerability in the Post SMTP plugin for WordPress, developed by wpexpertsio. This plugin facilitates SMTP email delivery with advanced logging and failure notifications. The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in SQL commands (CWE-89) due to insufficient escaping of the user-supplied 'selected' parameter in SQL queries. This flaw exists in all versions up to and including 2.9.3. An attacker with administrator-level access can exploit this by injecting additional SQL statements into existing queries, leveraging time-based techniques to infer sensitive data from the backend database. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require high privileges, limiting the attack surface to compromised or malicious administrators. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.2 (high), reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, required privileges, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No patches have been officially released at the time of this report, and no known exploits have been observed in the wild. The vulnerability affects WordPress sites using this plugin globally, potentially exposing sensitive email logs, user data, and other database contents. The root cause is inadequate input validation and lack of prepared statements or parameterized queries in the plugin's codebase.

The impact of CVE-2024-5207 is significant for organizations using the affected Post SMTP plugin on WordPress sites. Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information stored in the database, including email logs, user credentials, and configuration details. Attackers can also modify or delete data, disrupting email delivery and site functionality, potentially causing denial of service. Given the plugin's role in email delivery and failure notifications, exploitation could undermine communication reliability and expose organizations to phishing or further attacks. Since exploitation requires administrator privileges, the threat is primarily from insider threats or attackers who have already compromised admin accounts. However, the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that any successful attack could have severe operational and reputational consequences. The vulnerability could facilitate lateral movement within compromised environments and data exfiltration, increasing overall risk.

To mitigate CVE-2024-5207, organizations should immediately restrict administrator access to trusted personnel and enforce strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Monitoring and logging SQL queries and plugin activity can help detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Until an official patch is released, consider disabling or replacing the Post SMTP plugin with alternative secure SMTP plugins that follow secure coding practices. Developers and site administrators should review and harden plugin code by implementing parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent SQL Injection. Regularly update WordPress core, plugins, and themes to incorporate security fixes promptly. Additionally, conduct periodic security audits and vulnerability scans focused on WordPress environments to identify and remediate similar issues proactively.