CVE-2018-20966 in woocommerce-jetpack Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The woocommerce-jetpack plugin before 3.8.0 for WordPress has XSS in the Products Per Page feature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20966 affects the woocommerce-jetpack plugin version 3.8.0 and earlier, representing a cross-site scripting vulnerability within the Products Per Page feature of the WordPress ecosystem. This flaw exists within a widely used e-commerce plugin that extends WooCommerce functionality, making it particularly concerning for online retailers and web administrators who rely on WordPress for their digital commerce platforms. The vulnerability specifically manifests when users interact with the Products Per Page configuration settings, where improperly sanitized input allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the web application's response.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's Products Per Page functionality. When administrators or users configure the number of products displayed per page, the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into the HTML response. This creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through crafted input parameters, which then executes in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of web application vulnerabilities through malicious script injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and unauthorized administrative actions. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially steal administrator credentials, modify product listings, manipulate customer data, or redirect users to malicious websites. The risk is amplified by the widespread adoption of the woocommerce-jetpack plugin, which means that a single vulnerable installation could provide attackers with access to multiple e-commerce platforms simultaneously. This vulnerability particularly affects online businesses where user trust and data security are paramount, as it could compromise customer information and undermine the integrity of the entire e-commerce platform.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately update to version 3.8.0 or later of the woocommerce-jetpack plugin to remediate the XSS vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement input validation measures at the web application level, including the use of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing proper input sanitization practices. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious script injection attempts, and organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against such attacks. Regular security assessments of WordPress installations and their associated plugins are essential to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.