CVE-2023-25960 - SQL Injection in Zendrop – Global Dropshipping Plugin (zendrop-dropshipping-and-fulfillment) Exploit and Analysis

Security researchers have uncovered a critical SQL injection vulnerability in the Zendrop – Global Dropshipping and Fulfillment WordPress plugin (slug: zendrop-dropshipping-and-fulfillment), exposing countless e-commerce sites to data theft and manipulation. Tracked as CVE-2023-25960, this flaw is categorized under "Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')" and affects all versions of the plugin up to and including 1...

This post explains what went wrong, who is at risk, how an attacker could exploit this, and how to protect your site.

What is SQL Injection?

SQL Injection is a dangerous vulnerability found in web applications that use a database. It happens when software mishandles user inputs, letting attackers inject malicious SQL queries. The result? Hackers can read, modify, or even delete your data, create fake users, and more.

Where's the problem in code?

A careless use of SQL queries is the usual culprit. The vulnerable plugin builds database queries using user-supplied data without sanitization or prepared statements.

Example (hypothetical vulnerable code)

// Vulnerable piece of code (simplified example)
$order_id = $_GET['order_id'];
$query = "SELECT * FROM {$wpdb->prefix}zendrop_orders WHERE order_id = '$order_id'";
$results = $wpdb->get_results($query);

Suppose your website is using this plugin. An attacker can target a URL like this

https://yourwordpresssite.com/?order_id=1'; OR '1'='1

The resulting SQL becomes

SELECT * FROM wp_zendrop_orders WHERE order_id = '1' OR '1'='1'

The condition '1'='1' always evaluates to true, so the attacker might get all orders instead of just one!

Attackers could try further payloads, such as

https://yourwordpresssite.com/?order_id=1';; SELECT user_login, user_pass FROM wp_users; --

Depending on the environment, this might leak usernames and password hashes.

Original References

- NIST NVD CVE-2023-25960 Record
- WordPress Plugin Page - Zendrop – Global Dropshipping and Fulfillment
- CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')

1. Stop Using the Plugin

If possible, deactivate and remove the Zendrop – Global Dropshipping plugin until a fixed version is released.

2. Contact the Plugin Author

Check the plugin support forum to see if an official patch or security update is coming.

If you must keep the functionality

// SAFE: Use prepared statements
$order_id = $_GET['order_id'] ?? '';
if (is_numeric($order_id)) {
    $query = $wpdb->prepare(
        "SELECT * FROM {$wpdb->prefix}zendrop_orders WHERE order_id = %d",
        $order_id
    );
    $results = $wpdb->get_results($query);
}

4. Monitor for Exploitation

Check your logs for strange order_id requests or other suspicious access patterns.

5. Use a Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A WAF can often block common SQL injection attempts automatically.

`

/?order_id=1'

Conclusion

CVE-2023-25960 is a textbook example of why proper coding standards matter. SQL Injection remains one of the most devastating web vulnerabilities, yet is simple to prevent by never trusting user input and always using prepared statements.

If you use Zendrop – Global Dropshipping and Fulfillment on your WordPress site, act immediately to secure your site and spread the word to others who might be at risk.

For more details and updates, keep an eye on

- National Vulnerability Database - CVE-2023-25960
- Zendrop Support Page
- WPScan vulnerability entry

Timeline

Published on: 11/03/2023 13:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 11/13/2023 18:47:59 UTC