CVE-2019-5992 in Ultra Simple Paypal Shopping Cart
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in WordPress Ultra Simple Paypal Shopping Cart v4.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2023
The CVE-2019-5992 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw within the WordPress Ultra Simple Paypal Shopping Cart plugin version 4.4 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of user authentication tokens and request validation mechanisms, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit administrative sessions without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's administrative interface where CSRF protection measures are insufficiently implemented, allowing attackers to manipulate administrative functions through forged requests. The flaw stems from the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation in the plugin's form processing mechanisms, particularly when handling payment-related administrative actions.
This vulnerability operates through the exploitation of trust relationships between the victim administrator and the vulnerable WordPress installation. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or emails containing embedded requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, perform unauthorized actions within the plugin's administrative context. The unspecified vectors referenced in the vulnerability description suggest that multiple attack surfaces within the plugin's administrative interface are susceptible to this type of manipulation. The flaw allows attackers to execute administrative functions such as modifying payment settings, processing unauthorized transactions, or altering plugin configurations without the administrator's knowledge or consent. This represents a significant security risk given that administrators possess elevated privileges within the WordPress environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5992 extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially compromise the entire WordPress installation. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain persistent access to administrative functions, modify critical payment configurations, or redirect transactions to malicious endpoints. The vulnerability particularly affects e-commerce operations where the plugin handles sensitive financial data, potentially leading to financial loss, data breaches, or unauthorized access to customer payment information. The attack requires minimal technical expertise and can be executed through social engineering techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently click on suspicious links or visit untrusted websites.
Security mitigation for this vulnerability requires immediate plugin updates to versions that address the CSRF implementation gaps. System administrators should implement proper input validation and token generation mechanisms that align with industry standards such as those outlined in CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures including web application firewalls, proper session management, and regular security audits of installed plugins. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1071.004 for Application Layer Protocol: DNS and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers typically leverage social engineering to deliver malicious payloads that exploit such CSRF flaws. Regular patch management processes and security monitoring should be implemented to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while also ensuring that all administrative interfaces maintain proper CSRF protection mechanisms including the use of anti-CSRF tokens that are validated on each request.