CVE-2021-4391 in Ultimate Gift Cards for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/01/2023
The Ultimate Gift Cards for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 2.1.1. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the mwb_wgm_save_post() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to modify product gift card details via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2023
The Ultimate Gift Cards for WooCommerce plugin presents a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that affects versions up to and including 2.1.1. This vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the plugin's administrative functionality, specifically targeting the mwb_wgm_save_post() function which lacks proper nonce validation mechanisms. The flaw creates a pathway for unauthenticated attackers to manipulate gift card product configurations through maliciously crafted requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress administration interface.
This vulnerability operates under the principle that administrators may be tricked into executing unintended actions through social engineering techniques such as clicking on malicious links or visiting compromised websites. The missing nonce validation means that any request sent to the mwb_wgm_save_post() function can be accepted without proper authentication verification, effectively allowing attackers to perform unauthorized modifications to gift card product details. The attack vector relies on the trust relationship between the WordPress admin interface and the vulnerable plugin, exploiting the assumption that requests originating from the admin area are legitimate.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as gift card configurations directly affect financial transactions and customer experiences within WooCommerce stores. Attackers could potentially alter gift card values, modify redemption rules, or change product availability settings, leading to financial losses for merchants and compromised customer data integrity. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of gift card management within the WooCommerce ecosystem, potentially disrupting business operations and customer trust in the platform's security measures.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of insufficient validation and sanitization issues, aligning with CWE-352 which categorizes cross-site request forgery flaws. The attack pattern demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically the use of social engineering to manipulate administrators into performing malicious actions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version of the plugin, reviewing plugin permissions, and implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious administrative requests.
Mitigation strategies should include comprehensive plugin security audits, implementation of proper nonce validation across all administrative functions, and enhanced monitoring of administrative user activities. Regular security assessments of WordPress plugins are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other third-party components. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the necessity of robust input validation mechanisms within WordPress plugin development to prevent unauthorized administrative access and protect against manipulation of critical business functions.