CVE-2023-2256 Scanner

Product Addons & Fields for WooCommerce is a widely utilized WordPress plugin that enhances the functionality of WooCommerce by allowing store owners to add custom options to their products. It is primarily used by ecommerce platform managers and WordPress developers to enrich product listings and improve user experience. This plugin makes it easier for sellers to offer personalized product experiences by providing additional fields for customer input. Many online stores leverage this plugin to tailor their offerings and accommodate customer preferences directly within product pages. The plugin integrates seamlessly with the WooCommerce ecosystem, making it a popular choice for WordPress-based ecommerce sites. Ensuring its security and functionality is essential for maintaining ecommerce site integrity and customer trust.

The Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Product Addons & Fields for WooCommerce arises due to improper sanitization and escaping of certain URL parameters within the admin panel. This vulnerability allows attackers to insert and execute arbitrary JavaScript code through these unsanitized inputs. It specifically targets the plugin's admin area, potentially compromising the security of the website if administrative users are tricked into clicking malicious links. This reflected XSS vulnerability could be used to hijack an administrator's session, perform unauthorized actions, or access sensitive site data. The vulnerability's existence before version 32.0.7 emphasizes the importance of timely updates to prevent exploitation. Addressing this vulnerability is critical to protecting against XSS attacks in the affected plugin versions.

Technically, this vulnerability exploits the lack of input validation for certain query parameters processed by the plugin within the admin panel. It allows for the injection of harmful JavaScript code that is subsequently reflected to the victim's browser. The vulnerable endpoint includes admin page parameters susceptible to injection attacks when processing user input. An attack involves crafting a malicious URL containing a script payload that is executed once accessed by an authorized admin user. This technique leverages the plugin's existing administrative interfaces to embed JavaScript that executes with the admin user's privileges. Security practitioners recommend developers incorporate comprehensive input validation and output sanitization mechanisms to prevent such vulnerabilities.

The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to various repercussions, including unauthorized access to administrative functions or website data. Attackers could modify site content, exfiltrate sensitive information, or intervene in ecommerce transactions, significantly impacting business operations and customer trust. These effects could extend to session hijacking, where the attacker gains full control of a legitimate user's session. Continued neglect of such vulnerabilities could prompt a loss of credibility, with affected businesses facing potential financial and reputational damages. Addressing this type of vulnerability is vital to safeguarding interactive and transactional elements of ecommerce websites using the plugin.

REFERENCES

• https://wpscan.com/vulnerability/1187e041-3be2-4613-8d56-c2394fcc75fb
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2256