CVE-2018-11579 in WooCommerce Banner Management Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
class-woo-banner-management.php in the MULTIDOTS WooCommerce Category Banner Management plugin 1.1.0 for WordPress has an Unauthenticated Settings Change Vulnerability, related to certain wp_ajax_nopriv_ usage. Anyone can change the plugin's setting by simply sending a request with a wbm_save_shop_page_banner_data action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11579 affects the MULTIDOTS WooCommerce Category Banner Management plugin version 1.1.0 for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of plugin configurations. This issue stems from improper access controls within the plugin's administrative functionality, specifically targeting the class-woo-banner-management.php file that handles banner management operations. The vulnerability allows unauthorized actors to manipulate plugin settings without authentication, creating a significant risk for WordPress sites utilizing this particular plugin version.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the improper handling of AJAX requests within the WordPress ecosystem. The plugin registers certain AJAX actions using the wp_ajax_nopriv_ prefix, which typically indicates functions accessible to unauthenticated users. However, in this case, the wbm_save_shop_page_banner_data action is exposed without proper authentication checks, enabling any external party to submit crafted requests that modify the plugin's configuration settings. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in implementing proper access control mechanisms for administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, potentially allowing attackers to compromise the entire WooCommerce store's banner management functionality. An attacker could modify banner display settings, alter promotional content, or even redirect users to malicious destinations through banner configurations. The unauthenticated nature of this vulnerability means that no credentials are required to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by anyone who discovers the vulnerable endpoint. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the security principle that administrative functions should require proper authentication and authorization.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts used for lateral movement, as the ability to modify plugin settings without authentication creates a potential foothold for further exploitation. The impact on affected WordPress installations could range from minor inconvenience to significant security breaches, particularly if the compromised banner management system is used for customer-facing promotions or if the attacker leverages this access to gain further insights into the site's structure. Organizations running vulnerable versions of this plugin face increased risk of data manipulation, customer deception, and potential cascading security issues within their e-commerce infrastructure.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of the plugin to version 1.1.1 or later, which addresses the authentication flaw by implementing proper access control checks for the affected AJAX actions. Additionally, administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their WordPress installations to identify other plugins that may exhibit similar authentication bypass vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized changes to plugin configurations, and network segmentation should be implemented to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing proper authentication mechanisms for all administrative functions within WordPress plugins, as even seemingly minor configuration options can provide significant attack vectors when improperly secured.