CVE-2016-11008 in wp-invoice Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The wp-invoice plugin before 4.1.1 for WordPress has incorrect access control over wpi_paypal payer metadata updates.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2023
The wp-invoice plugin vulnerability CVE-2016-11008 represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security of WordPress installations relying on this invoicing solution. This issue affects versions prior to 4.1.1 and specifically targets the plugin's handling of PayPal payer metadata updates, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to manipulate financial transaction data within the WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's permission validation mechanisms, where proper authentication checks fail to verify user privileges before allowing modifications to sensitive payment information.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and access control enforcement within the plugin's backend processing logic. When users attempt to update PayPal payer metadata through the wp-invoice plugin interface, the system does not adequately verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges or ownership rights to perform such modifications. This misconfiguration allows attackers with minimal privileges or even unauthenticated access to manipulate payment-related metadata, potentially enabling fraudulent transactions or data corruption within the invoicing system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, creating significant risks for businesses utilizing WordPress for financial operations. Attackers could exploit this weakness to alter payment details, modify transaction amounts, or redirect payments to unauthorized recipients, potentially resulting in financial losses and compliance violations. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on automated payment processing through PayPal integration, as the compromised metadata could disrupt legitimate payment flows and create audit trail inconsistencies. Additionally, the flaw may enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive financial information stored within the plugin's database structures.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to wp-invoice plugin version 4.1.1 or later, which implements proper access control measures and input validation. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any instances where this plugin remains in use, particularly in environments handling sensitive financial data. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized modifications to payment-related data within WordPress installations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and represents a specific implementation of the broader ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts, where attackers leverage insufficient access controls to escalate privileges within the application. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls and regular security audits to prevent similar issues in other WordPress plugins and themes that may contain similar access control weaknesses.