CVE-2021-4414 in Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2023
The Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 5.8.5. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the wcal_preview_emails() function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to generate email preview templates 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 • 04/10/2026
The Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce plugin presents a significant cross-site request forgery vulnerability that affects versions up to and including 5.8.5. This weakness resides within the wcal_preview_emails() function where nonce validation is either missing or improperly implemented, creating a critical security gap in the WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the lack of proper authentication checks that should normally validate the legitimacy of requests originating from administrators.
This CSRF flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the plugin's email preview functionality through carefully crafted forged requests. The attack vector requires social engineering to trick administrators into executing malicious actions, typically through deceptive links that when clicked, trigger the vulnerable function. The attacker can leverage this weakness to generate email preview templates without proper authorization, potentially leading to unauthorized email generation that could be used for spamming or phishing activities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access as it allows attackers to exploit the plugin's administrative capabilities without authentication. When an administrator inadvertently clicks on a malicious link, the forged request can execute the wcal_preview_emails() function with attacker-controlled parameters, potentially compromising email delivery systems and exposing sensitive customer data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the administrative level, giving attackers access to email templates and potentially sensitive information processed through the abandoned cart functionality.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers social engineering through spearphishing, as the attack requires administrator interaction to be successful. The lack of proper nonce validation represents a fundamental flaw in the plugin's security architecture, as nonces are essential for preventing unauthorized requests from being processed by administrative functions.
Organizations should immediately update to versions of the Abandoned Cart Lite plugin that address this vulnerability, as the fix typically involves implementing proper nonce validation in the affected function. Additionally, administrators should conduct security reviews of all installed plugins to identify similar CSRF vulnerabilities. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual email preview requests, and security awareness training should be provided to prevent administrators from clicking suspicious links. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of validating all administrative requests and implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms in WordPress plugins, particularly those handling email functionality and customer data processing.