# CVE-2023-28659: SQL injection in Waiting: One-click Countdowns WordPress Plugin

> Authenticated attackers can exploit SQL injection in the Waiting: One-click Countdowns WordPress plugin to read or modify database contents.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Mar 2023
- **Updated:** 25 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5h4q-7v83-2cp6

## What is CVE-2023-28659?

CVE-2023-28659 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Waiting: One-click Countdowns WordPress Plugin, published on 22 Mar 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The Waiting: One-click Countdowns WordPress Plugin, version <= 0.6.2, is affected by an authenticated SQL injection vulnerability in the pbc_down[meta][id] parameter of the pbc_save_downs action.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-28659?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Plugin Waiting.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-28659?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-28659 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-28659 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-28659 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Waiting: One-click Countdowns WordPress Plugin

- [CVE-2023-2757](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2757/): Cross-site scripting in Waiting: One-click countdowns (high 7.4)
- [CVE-2023-3999](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3999/): Waiting: One-click countdowns <= 0.6.2 - Missing Authorization (medium 6.3)
- [CVE-2023-4000](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-4000/): Waiting: One-click countdowns <= 0.6.2 - Cross-Site Request Forgery (medium 6.3)
- [CVE-2022-4954](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-4954/): Waiting: One-click countdowns <= 0.6.2 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Cross-Site Scripting (medium 5.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-28659 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-28659 is a high-severity SQL injection vulnerability in Waiting: One-click Countdowns WordPress Plugin, published on 22 Mar 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-28659 exists.

Affected product: Waiting: One-click Countdowns 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-2023-28659/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28659/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-28659
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28659
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-28659

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28659/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.