CVE-2022-0399 in Advanced Product Labels for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/14/2022
The Advanced Product Labels for WooCommerce WordPress plugin before 1.2.3.7 does not sanitise and escape the tax_color_set_type parameter before outputting it back in the berocket_apl_color_listener AJAX action's response, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0399 affects the Advanced Product Labels for WooCommerce WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 1.2.3.7. This issue represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping within the plugin's AJAX handling mechanism. The vulnerability manifests when the tax_color_set_type parameter is processed through the berocket_apl_color_listener AJAX action without proper sanitization measures, creating a potential attack vector for malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of affected users' browsers.
The technical flaw stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper input validation and output escaping procedures for user-supplied data. When the tax_color_set_type parameter is passed through the AJAX endpoint, it flows directly into the response without being sanitized or escaped, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that will execute when the response is rendered in the victim's browser. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and more precisely maps to CWE-74 as it involves improper neutralization of special elements used in an XSS attack. The vulnerability operates within the ATT&CK framework under the T1566 technique category, specifically targeting the credential access and execution phases through web-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could craft a malicious URL containing crafted script tags in the tax_color_set_type parameter, which when visited by an administrator or authenticated user would execute the payload in their browser context. This presents a significant risk to WordPress sites using the vulnerable plugin, as administrators often have elevated privileges and could be targeted for credential theft or further compromise of the web application. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is not stored on the server but rather reflected back in the response, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through social engineering attacks or phishing campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the plugin to version 1.2.3.7 or later, which should include proper sanitization and escaping of the tax_color_set_type parameter before output. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as input validation at multiple layers, content security policies to restrict script execution, and regular security audits of WordPress plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper output escaping in AJAX handlers and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of web applications, particularly those involving user input processing in dynamic contexts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious AJAX requests to detect potential exploitation attempts.