CVE-2019-14948 in woocommerce-product-addon Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
The woocommerce-product-addon plugin before 18.4 for WordPress has XSS via an import of a new meta data structure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2019-14948 affects the woocommerce-product-addon plugin version 18.3 and earlier for WordPress, representing a cross-site scripting weakness that arises during the import process of new metadata structures. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the plugin's import functionality, creating a vector for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts into the application's response. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of imported metadata, where user-supplied data is not properly escaped or validated before being rendered in the web interface, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin processes imported product metadata that contains malicious script content within the meta fields. During the import operation, the plugin fails to sanitize or escape special characters in the imported data, particularly when the metadata structure includes javascript or html content. This improper handling of user-supplied data creates a persistent XSS vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers who have the ability to upload or modify product data through the import functionality. The vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers spearphishing attachments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized transactions, modify product information, or redirect users to malicious sites. An attacker could craft a malicious import file containing javascript payload that executes when administrators view product details or import screens, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages legitimate import functionality that administrators typically trust, making detection more challenging. Organizations using affected versions of the plugin face risks of data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and potential complete compromise of their e-commerce platforms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to version 18.4 or later, which contain the necessary sanitization fixes. Additionally, administrators should implement strict input validation for all import operations, restrict import permissions to trusted users only, and consider implementing content security policies to prevent script execution. Regular security audits of plugin imports and monitoring for suspicious import activities should be established. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious import attempts, while maintaining updated security patches for all WordPress components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating and sanitizing all user-supplied data in web applications, particularly in e-commerce platforms where financial transactions occur.