The Flat Shipping Rate by City for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via the 'cities' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.3. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers, with Shop Manager-level access and above, to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries. The lack of sufficient escaping on the user-supplied parameter and inadequate preparation on the existing SQL query makes it possible for these attackers to extract sensitive information from the database.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 4.9, classified as medium severity, which implies a moderate risk to affected systems. The attack vector is network-based, with low attack complexity and high privileges required for exploitation. Since this vulnerability can lead to high confidentiality impact, organizations utilizing this plugin should take immediate action.
Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The vulnerability was disclosed on January 14, 2026, and has been marked as deferred. Although there are currently no known exploits in the wild, the potential for exploitation remains significant, particularly for systems that do not implement proper security controls.
Risk to organizations includes the possibility of unauthorized access to sensitive data stored in the database. To mitigate this risk, it is essential to apply the necessary updates or patches provided by the plugin developers.
Regular monitoring and reviewing of logs can help identify any suspicious activities related to this vulnerability. Security teams should be vigilant in assessing their current configurations and access controls for the affected systems to prevent possible exploitation.
Furthermore, organizations can consider implementing additional security measures such as input validation and prepared statements to enhance the security posture against SQL injection vulnerabilities.
In conclusion, while the Flat Shipping Rate by City for WooCommerce plugin presents a medium severity threat, proactive measures can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation.
Vulnerability Details
The Flat Shipping Rate by City for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via the 'cities' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.3. The vulnerability arises from insufficient escaping of user-supplied parameters and a lack of proper preparation on existing SQL queries.
The CVSS score is 4.9, indicating a medium severity level. The affected product is the Flat Shipping Rate by City for WooCommerce plugin, with the vulnerability published on January 14, 2026. The associated CWE classification is CWE-89.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of user inputs. Attackers can exploit this by appending additional SQL queries to the existing queries, which can lead to unauthorized data access.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is network-based, requiring an authenticated user with Shop Manager privileges. The attack complexity is low, as it does not require any user interaction. The confidentiality impact is high, allowing potential exposure of sensitive information, while integrity and availability impacts are none.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The deployment of the vulnerable plugin introduces significant risk to organizations, especially those handling sensitive customer information. The potential for data breaches and unauthorized access to confidential information is high, which can lead to loss of trust and reputational damage.
Organizations must treat this vulnerability with urgency. The availability of a public exploit is currently unconfirmed, but the potential for future exploitation remains a concern. Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to mitigate risks.
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The vulnerable versions include all versions up to, and including, 1.0.3 of the Flat Shipping Rate by City for WooCommerce plugin.
Mitigation & Remediation
To mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should apply any available patches or updates to the Flat Shipping Rate by City for WooCommerce plugin. If a patch is unavailable, consider implementing input validation to sanitize user inputs and prevent SQL injection.
Organizations should regularly review configurations and access controls to ensure that only necessary privileges are granted to users. Continuous security assessments can help identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
For further guidance on securing applications, organizations can consult our application security assessment services.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor their logs for abnormal SQL query patterns and user activities that could indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
Behavioral anomalies, such as unexpected access attempts or privilege escalations, should be flagged and investigated immediately.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
This vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices, specifically regarding input validation and SQL query preparation. Organizations should assess their development practices to ensure that similar vulnerabilities are not introduced in the future.
Security teams can benefit from reviewing our secure coding practices guide to strengthen their applications against such attacks.
Finally, engaging in regular red teaming exercises can help identify and remediate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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