CVE-2016-10922 in woocommerce-store-toolkit Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The woocommerce-store-toolkit plugin before 1.5.7 for WordPress has privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10922 affects the woocommerce-store-toolkit plugin version 1.5.6 and earlier within the WordPress ecosystem. This plugin serves as a utility tool for store administrators to perform various operations including data management and store configuration tasks. The flaw manifests as a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows unauthorized users to gain elevated permissions within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's handling of user permissions and access controls, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass normal security boundaries and execute administrative functions without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this privilege escalation flaw stems from inadequate input validation and insufficient access control checks within the plugin's administrative interfaces. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating specific parameters or requests that should normally require administrator-level permissions. The vulnerability typically occurs when the plugin fails to properly verify user roles or capabilities before executing sensitive operations. This weakness aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control vulnerabilities where systems fail to properly enforce authorization mechanisms. The flaw allows attackers to perform operations such as modifying store settings, accessing sensitive data, or executing administrative commands that should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly by malicious actors. Once an attacker successfully exploits this privilege escalation, they can assume full administrative control over the affected WordPress site, potentially leading to complete compromise of the e-commerce platform. This includes the ability to modify product catalogs, alter pricing information, access customer data, and even install malicious code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in e-commerce environments where sensitive financial and personal data is stored, as it provides attackers with direct pathways to data exfiltration and system manipulation. The attack surface is further expanded due to the widespread adoption of the woocommerce-store-toolkit plugin, making numerous WordPress installations vulnerable to this specific flaw.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to upgrade the affected plugin to version 1.5.7 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the privilege escalation issue. System administrators should also implement comprehensive monitoring of administrative activities and user access patterns to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network-based security controls including web application firewalls should be configured to monitor for suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable plugin endpoints. Additionally, regular security audits of installed WordPress plugins and themes are essential to identify other potential vulnerabilities that might exist within the broader WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation tactics used by adversaries to maintain persistent access to compromised systems. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.