# CVE-2023-1020: Steveas WP Live Chat Shoutbox <= 1.4.2 - Unauthenticated SQLi

> Unauthenticated attackers can inject SQL commands via an AJAX action in the Steveas WP Live Chat Shoutbox plugin to read or modify database content.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 24 Apr 2023
- **Updated:** 4 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cg84-ggcf-mxg7

## What is CVE-2023-1020?

CVE-2023-1020 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in Unknown Steveas WP Live Chat Shoutbox, published on 24 Apr 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Steveas WP Live Chat Shoutbox WordPress plugin through 1.4.2 does not sanitise and escape a parameter before using it in a SQL statement via an AJAX action available to unauthenticated users, leading to a SQL injection.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-1020?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Wp Live Chat Shoutbox Project Wp Live Chat Shoutbox.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-1020?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-1020 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-1020 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-1020 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Steveas WP Live Chat Shoutbox <= 1.4.2 - SQL Injection (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-1020.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Unknown Steveas WP Live Chat Shoutbox

- [CVE-2023-0899](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0899/): Steveas WP Live Chat Shoutbox <= 1.4.2 - Unauthenticated Stored XSS (medium 6.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-1020 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-1020 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in Unknown Steveas WP Live Chat Shoutbox, published on 24 Apr 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-1020 exists.

Affected product: Unknown Steveas WP Live Chat Shoutbox. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1020/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1020/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-1020
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1020
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-1020

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1020/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.