CVE-2016-10923 in woocommerce-store-toolkit Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The woocommerce-store-toolkit plugin before 1.5.8 for WordPress has privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10923 affects the woocommerce-store-toolkit plugin version 1.5.7 and earlier within the WordPress ecosystem. This plugin serves as a utility tool for store administrators to manage various aspects of their woocommerce implementations. The flaw represents a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that allows unauthorized users to gain elevated permissions within the WordPress administrative environment. The vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the plugin's code implementation, specifically in how it handles user role validation and permission checks during administrative operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's failure to properly validate user permissions before executing administrative functions. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that bypass standard WordPress user role checks, effectively allowing users with minimal privileges to perform actions reserved for administrators. This flaw operates at the application layer and directly impacts the WordPress core security model by undermining the principle of least privilege. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control, making it a direct violation of fundamental security principles in web application development.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to e-commerce websites utilizing the affected plugin. An attacker who gains access to a low-privilege account can escalate their privileges to administrator level, potentially gaining access to sensitive customer data, financial information, and complete control over the website's administrative functions. This includes the ability to modify product catalogs, alter pricing structures, access customer databases, and install malicious plugins. The impact extends beyond immediate data compromise as attackers can use the elevated privileges to establish persistent backdoors, modify website content, or redirect traffic to malicious destinations.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with techniques documented in the attack pattern taxonomy under MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting privilege escalation and credential access tactics. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a common class of flaws in WordPress plugins where developers fail to implement proper input validation and access control checks. The recommended mitigations include immediate upgrading to version 1.5.8 or later of the woocommerce-store-toolkit plugin, which addresses the privilege escalation flaw through proper user role validation. Additionally, administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of administrative activities, conduct regular security audits of installed plugins, and ensure that all WordPress components remain updated with the latest security patches. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential damage from compromised accounts, while maintaining detailed logging of administrative actions to detect any suspicious activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.