CVE-2016-11007 in wp-invoice Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The wp-invoice plugin before 4.1.1 for WordPress has incorrect access control over wpi_user_id for invoice retrieval.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-11007 affects the wp-invoice plugin for WordPress systems prior to version 4.1.1, representing a critical access control flaw that undermines the security of financial data management. This issue specifically targets the plugin's handling of user identifiers during invoice retrieval processes, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive financial information. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's core functionality for managing invoices and user associations, where proper authentication and authorization checks are inadequately implemented.
The technical flaw manifests in the incorrect handling of the wpi_user_id parameter during invoice retrieval operations, allowing attackers to manipulate this identifier to access invoices belonging to other users. This represents a classic case of insufficient access control validation where the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user has legitimate authorization to view specific invoice data. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper user context verification and role-based access controls within the plugin's backend processing logic. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-284: Improper Access Control, which encompasses issues where software fails to properly enforce access restrictions on resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially enabling attackers to perform financial fraud, identity theft, and unauthorized transaction manipulation. An attacker could exploit this flaw to retrieve invoices from multiple users, access payment details, and potentially alter financial records if additional vulnerabilities exist within the plugin's data modification functions. This vulnerability particularly affects small to medium businesses relying on WordPress for client management and invoicing, where financial data confidentiality is paramount. The attack vector is relatively straightforward, requiring only knowledge of the target WordPress installation and basic understanding of the plugin's API endpoints.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 4.1.1 or later, which contain the necessary access control fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and implementing network-level restrictions to limit exposure. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper authentication mechanisms and access control validation, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1078: Valid Accounts, which emphasizes the exploitation of legitimate credentials for unauthorized access. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all WordPress plugins, particularly those handling sensitive data, and establish robust monitoring procedures to detect anomalous access patterns. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and access control lists can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities.