# CVE-2023-23489: SQL injection in Easy Digital Downloads WordPress Plugin

> Unauthenticated attackers can execute SQL injection via the search parameter, potentially reading or modifying database contents.

- **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:** 20 Jan 2023
- **Updated:** 3 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7745-326p-vhm6

## What is CVE-2023-23489?

CVE-2023-23489 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in Easy Digital Downloads WordPress Plugin, published on 20 Jan 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Easy Digital Downloads WordPress Plugin, versions 3.1.0.2 & 3.1.0.3, is affected by an unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability in the 's' parameter of its 'edd_download_search' action.

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-23489?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Sandhillsdev Easy Digital Downloads.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-23489?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-23489 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-23489 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-23489 exists.

Public exploit code:

- WordPress Easy Digital Downloads 3.1.0.2/3.1.0.3 - SQL Injection (nuclei): http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-23489.yaml

## Other vulnerabilities in Easy Digital Downloads WordPress Plugin

- [CVE-2023-0380](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0380/): Easy Digital Downloads < 3.1.0.5 - Contributor+ Stored XSS (medium 5.4)
- [CVE-2024-32100](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-32100/): WordPress Easy Digital Downloads plugin <= 3.2.11 - Sensitive Data Exposure vulnerability (medium 5.3)
- [CVE-2024-31113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-31113/): WordPress Easy Digital Downloads plugin <= 3.2.11 - Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability (medium 4.3)
- [CVE-2024-31293](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-31293/): WordPress Easy Digital Downloads plugin <= 3.2.6 - Cross Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-23489 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-23489 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in Easy Digital Downloads WordPress Plugin, published on 20 Jan 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-2023-23489 exists.

Affected product: Easy Digital Downloads WordPress Plugin. 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-2023-23489/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23489/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-23489
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-23489
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-23489

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23489/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.