📄 Description (English)
The Boost plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to time-based SQL Injection via the 'current_url' and 'user_name' parameters in versions up to, and including, 2.0.3 due to insufficient escaping on the user supplied parameters and lack of sufficient preparation on the existing SQL queries. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to append additional SQL queries into already existing queries that can be used to extract sensitive information from the database.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
The Boost plugin for WordPress versions up to 2.0.3 contains a critical time-based SQL injection vulnerability in the 'current_url' and 'user_name' parameters, allowing unauthenticated attackers to extract sensitive database information. This vulnerability affects any WordPress installation using the vulnerable plugin version, with no patch currently available. Immediate mitigation is required for Saudi organizations operating WordPress-based systems.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: May 21, 2026 20:16
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability poses significant risk to Saudi organizations using WordPress for e-commerce, government portals, banking customer portals, and healthcare information systems. Most at-risk sectors include: Banking (SAMA-regulated institutions using WordPress for customer-facing applications), Government agencies (NCA oversight), Healthcare providers (MOH systems), Telecommunications (STC, Mobily web platforms), and E-commerce businesses. The unauthenticated nature of the attack makes it particularly dangerous as attackers can extract customer data, financial information, and credentials without any authentication.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Banking and Financial Services
Government and Public Administration
Healthcare and Medical Services
Energy and Utilities
Telecommunications
E-commerce and Retail
Education
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
8.2
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
1. Disable or deactivate the Boost plugin immediately across all WordPress installations
2. Audit database access logs for suspicious SQL queries and time-based injection patterns
3. Review database backups for unauthorized data access or exfiltration
4. Reset all database user credentials and WordPress admin passwords
COMPENSATING CONTROLS (until patch available):
1. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to block SQL injection patterns in 'current_url' and 'user_name' parameters
2. Apply input validation at the application layer using prepared statements
3. Restrict database user permissions to minimum required privileges
4. Enable database query logging and monitoring for anomalous SQL patterns
5. Implement rate limiting on affected endpoints
DETECTION RULES:
1. Monitor for SQL keywords (UNION, SELECT, WHERE, OR, AND) in 'current_url' and 'user_name' parameters
2. Alert on time-based delays in database responses (>5 second response times)
3. Track failed database authentication attempts
4. Monitor for unusual database queries accessing sensitive tables (wp_users, wp_usermeta)
PATCHING GUIDANCE:
1. Monitor Boost plugin repository for security updates
2. Consider alternative plugins with active security maintenance
3. If plugin is critical, implement custom code patches to properly escape parameters using wpdb->prepare()
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تعطيل مكون Boost فوراً عبر جميع تثبيتات WordPress
2. تدقيق سجلات الوصول إلى قاعدة البيانات للبحث عن استعلامات SQL المريبة
3. مراجعة نسخ احتياطية من قاعدة البيانات للتحقق من الوصول غير المصرح
4. إعادة تعيين بيانات اعتماد مستخدمي قاعدة البيانات وكلمات مرور WordPress
الضوابط التعويضية:
1. تطبيق قواعد جدار حماية تطبيقات الويب لحجب أنماط حقن SQL
2. تطبيق التحقق من صحة المدخلات باستخدام الاستعلامات المحضرة
3. تقييد صلاحيات مستخدم قاعدة البيانات
4. تفعيل تسجيل المراقبة لاستعلامات قاعدة البيانات
5. تطبيق تحديد معدل الطلبات على نقاط النهاية المتأثرة
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة كلمات SQL الرئيسية في المعاملات
2. التنبيه على التأخيرات الزمنية في استجابات قاعدة البيانات
3. تتبع محاولات المصادقة الفاشلة
4. مراقبة الاستعلامات غير العادية للجداول الحساسة
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.14.2.1 - Information security requirements for supplier relationships
ECC 2024 A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
ECC 2024 A.12.2.1 - Establishment of information security baselines
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.GV-1 - Organizational cybersecurity policy and governance
PR.DS-1 - Data security and protection
PR.IP-1 - Security patch and vulnerability management
DE.CM-1 - Detection and analysis of anomalies
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Supplier security requirements
A.12.2.1 - Configuration management
A.12.3.1 - Cryptography and data protection
🟣 PCI DSS v4.0.1
Requirement 6.2 - Security patches and updates
Requirement 6.5.1 - Injection flaws prevention
Requirement 11.2 - Vulnerability scanning