CVE-2023-30839 - Critical PrestaShop SQL Filtering Vulnerability Explained [Exclusive Long Read]
If you run an online store using PrestaShop, this is one security update you can't afford to miss. Let's break down CVE-2023-30839, a serious bug in PrestaShop's database filtering that could give certain users way more power than you intended.
What Is PrestaShop?
PrestaShop is a popular open source e-commerce platform for building and managing online stores. Its modular design and ease of use have made it the choice of thousands of online sellers worldwide. It's written in PHP and uses a MySQL database.
What Is CVE-2023-30839?
CVE-2023-30839 is a SQL filtering vulnerability discovered in PrestaShop, present in all versions before 8..4 and 1.7.8.9. This flaw lets a Back Office (BO) user—think: store employees, not necessarily admins—carry out unauthorized actions like writing, updating, or deleting database entries even if they don't have permission.
Why Is This a Big Deal?
Most user roles in PrestaShop are limited. For example, someone handling orders shouldn't be allowed to delete products or mess with user data. But with this vulnerability, any BO user could potentially execute unauthorized SQL queries. That’s like giving house keys to the entire staff—including temp workers!
> Danger level: HIGH.
> - Data loss
> - Site compromise
> - Leaking customer info
The Back Story
This vulnerability was reported to PrestaShop’s security team. Their official advisory:
- GitHub Notice
- NVD Entry
Technical Dive: Where's the Flaw?
The root problem lies in insufficient SQL filtering in certain Back Office components. The code that handled filtering for SQL requests did not properly validate or restrict input, which means a user could craft requests that:
Example Exploit Scenario
Let’s imagine how a malicious Back Office user might exploit this bug.
1. Filtering Products in Back Office
Suppose your staff member opens the products list and uses the advanced filter box, which may accept raw input.
Instead of a simple product name, the user enters something like
1; DELETE FROM ps_orders WHERE id_order > ; --
If input validation is weak, this extra SQL could run, deleting all orders in your shop!
Proof-of-Concept Snippet
// Vulnerable pseudocode
$filter = $_GET['filter']; // unsafe input from user
$sql = "SELECT * FROM ps_products WHERE name LIKE '%$filter%'"; // SQL Injection possible!
$results = $db->query($sql);
With no sanitization, a sneaky staffer can inject almost any SQL command.
Trigger unauthorized data manipulation in the database.
This breaks the expected access control of PrestaShop, undermining the security of your entire shop.
What's the Fix?
There are no workarounds—the only way to fix this is to upgrade PrestaShop immediately to one of:
1.7.8.9 (latest 1.7.x)
The patch tightens ALLOWLISTS for SQL operations, escaping and validating all user-controlled fields.
Official download links
- PrestaShop 8..4 release notes & download
- PrestaShop 1.7.8.9 release notes & download
References
- Original CVE entry on NIST
- PrestaShop GitHub Advisory
- PrestaShop security news
Summary Table
| Affected Versions | Patched In | Exploit Risk | Workaround |
|-------------------|---------------|----------------------|-------------|
| < 8..4, < 1.7.8.9| 8..4, 1.7.8.9| High (data loss, site compromise) | NONE |
If your business relies on PrestaShop, patch now before an insider or even an outsider takes control of your shop’s data. This is a classic example of why you should keep your e-commerce software up to date!
Stay safe, update often.
For those who want to see the technical discussion, check out:
- https://github.com/PrestaShop/PrestaShop/security/advisories/GHSA-hm9m-24v9-6m2f
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-30839
*This post is an exclusive, simple-language overview based on the latest information as of 2024-06. If you have further questions, let us know in the comments!*
Timeline
Published on: 04/25/2023 19:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 05/04/2023 17:32:00 UTC