CVE-2021-4375 in Welcart e-Commerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/07/2023
The Welcart e-Commerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass due to a missing capability check on the usces_download_system_information() function in versions up to, and including, 2.2.7. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers to download information including WordPress settings, plugin settings, PHP settings and server settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2026
The Welcart e-commerce plugin for WordPress presents a critical authorization bypass vulnerability through the usces_download_system_information() function, affecting versions up to and including 2.2.7. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that undermines the plugin's access control mechanisms and exposes sensitive system information to unauthorized users. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper capability checks within the function, allowing authenticated attackers to exploit this gap and gain access to confidential system data. The issue demonstrates a fundamental failure in the plugin's privilege management architecture, where the lack of authorization verification creates an exploitable entry point for malicious actors who have already established authentication credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the usces_download_system_information() function failing to verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges before granting access to system information. This missing capability check creates a direct path for privilege escalation, enabling attackers to bypass intended access controls. The function's design flaw allows any authenticated user to execute the download operation regardless of their role or permissions level, effectively removing the security boundary that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive configuration data. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control issues where insufficient checks allow unauthorized access to protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the downloaded system information includes comprehensive details about WordPress configuration, plugin settings, PHP environment variables, and server configuration parameters. Attackers can leverage this information to conduct further reconnaissance activities, identify potential attack vectors, and plan more sophisticated exploitation attempts against the compromised system. The exposure of WordPress settings provides insights into the site's structure and security configurations, while plugin settings reveal specific implementation details that could be targeted for additional vulnerabilities. Server settings and PHP configurations offer attackers valuable information about the underlying infrastructure, potentially enabling them to craft targeted attacks based on the specific software versions and configurations in use.
This vulnerability affects the plugin's integrity and the overall security posture of WordPress installations that rely on Welcart for e-commerce functionality. The unauthorized access to system information creates a persistent security risk that could be exploited by attackers to escalate privileges or launch more targeted attacks against the broader WordPress ecosystem. Organizations using affected plugin versions face increased exposure to potential compromise, as the leaked information provides attackers with detailed knowledge of the system's configuration and implementation details. The impact is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects authenticated users, meaning that attackers need only obtain valid user credentials to exploit the flaw, significantly reducing the barrier to successful exploitation.
The remediation approach requires immediate implementation of capability checks within the usces_download_system_information() function to ensure that only users with appropriate administrative privileges can access system information. This involves adding proper authorization verification before allowing the download operation to proceed, aligning with the principle of least privilege and ensuring that access controls are properly enforced. System administrators should upgrade to the latest plugin version that addresses this vulnerability, while also implementing additional monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts. The mitigation strategy should include regular security assessments of WordPress plugins to identify similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities and ensure that all security controls are properly implemented and maintained. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls and access monitoring to detect and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system information.