Origin Validation Error vulnerability in Akinsoft LimonDesk allows Forceful Browsing
Description
Origin Validation Error vulnerability in Akinsoft LimonDesk allows Forceful Browsing
Remediation
Apply vendor security updates immediately. Monitor for exploitation attempts and review access logs.
Executive Summary:
A high-severity SQL Injection vulnerability has been identified in the "School Management System for Wordpress" plugin. This flaw allows an attacker to manipulate the website's database, potentially leading to the theft, modification, or deletion of sensitive information. Successful exploitation could result in a significant data breach, exposing confidential student records, staff details, and other private data.
Vulnerability Details
CVE-ID: CVE-2024-12612
Affected Software: School Management System for Wordpress plugin
Affected Versions: All versions up to, and including, 93
Vulnerability: The vulnerability exists because the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input within multiple AJAX actions. An attacker can send specially crafted data to various parameters handled by these actions. This malicious input is then directly incorporated into SQL queries, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the website's database, bypassing security measures and gaining unauthorized access to the underlying data.
Business Impact
This vulnerability is rated as High severity with a CVSS score of 7.5. A successful exploit could have severe consequences for the organization, including a major data breach of sensitive Personal Identifiable Information (PII) such as student names, addresses, grades, and parent contact information. This could lead to significant reputational damage, loss of trust from students and parents, and potential legal and regulatory penalties under data protection laws (e.g., FERPA, GDPR). The integrity of academic and administrative data is also at risk, as an attacker could alter records or disrupt school operations.
Remediation Plan
Immediate Action: Immediately update the "School Management System for Wordpress" plugin to the latest version (94 or higher) to patch the vulnerability. After updating, review the plugin's configuration and general WordPress security settings. If the plugin is no longer essential, it should be deactivated and removed to reduce the attack surface.
Proactive Monitoring: Monitor Web Application Firewall (WAF) and web server access logs for suspicious requests targeting WordPress AJAX endpoints (
/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php), specifically looking for common SQL injection payloads (e.g.,UNION SELECT,' OR '1'='1'). Enable and review database query logs for unusual or malformed queries originating from the web server. Monitor for unexpected changes to website content or the creation of unauthorized user accounts.Compensating Controls: If immediate patching is not feasible, implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) with a robust ruleset configured to block SQL injection attacks. Restrict access to the WordPress administrative interface to trusted IP addresses. Consider temporarily disabling the plugin until a patch can be applied. Ensure the database user account for the WordPress application operates with the principle of least privilege.
Exploitation Status
Public Exploit Available: false
Analyst Notes: As of August 17, 2025, there are no known public exploits or active attacks targeting this vulnerability. However, SQL injection vulnerabilities are well-understood, and threat actors can often develop exploits quickly by reverse-engineering the security patch. Organizations should assume that an exploit could become available at any time.
Analyst Recommendation
This vulnerability presents a high risk to any organization utilizing the affected plugin, particularly due to the sensitive nature of the data managed by a school system. Given the high CVSS score of 7.5 and the potential for a severe data breach, immediate remediation is strongly recommended. Organizations must prioritize applying the vendor-supplied update without delay. While this CVE is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog, its high severity warrants urgent attention to prevent potential future exploitation.