CVE-2022-2657 in Multivendor Marketplace Solution for WooCommerce
Summary
by MITRE • 09/05/2022
The Multivendor Marketplace Solution for WooCommerce WordPress plugin before 3.8.12 is lacking authorisation and CSRF in multiple AJAX actions, which could allow any authenticated users, such as subscriber to call them and suspend vendors (reporter by the submitter) or update arbitrary order status (identified by WPScan when verifying the issue) for example. Other unauthenticated attacks are also possible, either directly or via CSRF
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2022
The CVE-2022-2657 vulnerability affects the Multivendor Marketplace Solution for WooCommerce WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 3.8.12, presenting a critical authorization and cross-site request forgery weakness that undermines the security posture of e-commerce platforms relying on this plugin. This vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and CSRF protection mechanisms within multiple AJAX endpoints, creating a pathway for unauthorized actions that can significantly impact marketplace operations and vendor relationships. The flaw allows any authenticated user, including low-privilege subscribers, to exploit these unprotected endpoints and execute potentially damaging operations within the marketplace environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the absence of proper authentication checks and CSRF tokens in several AJAX handlers that manage critical marketplace functions. Attackers can leverage these unprotected endpoints to manipulate vendor account statuses, including suspending vendor accounts, and to modify order statuses without proper authorization. The vulnerability operates through the WordPress AJAX interface, which typically handles asynchronous requests between the frontend and backend, but in this case lacks the necessary security validations that should prevent unauthorized access to administrative functions. The absence of CSRF protection means that attackers could potentially craft malicious requests that would be executed by authenticated users, expanding the attack surface beyond simple privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates opportunities for marketplace disruption and potential financial loss. When subscribers can suspend vendor accounts, it creates immediate operational challenges for marketplace administrators who must then restore these accounts, potentially leading to lost sales and damaged vendor relationships. The ability to update arbitrary order statuses introduces risks of fraudulent activity, inventory discrepancies, and potential revenue loss. Additionally, the vulnerability's unauthenticated attack vector means that even non-registered users could potentially exploit these endpoints, though the severity may be lower without the ability to perform account suspension or status updates. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-863, which addresses "Incorrect Authorization," and represents a failure to implement proper access control mechanisms in web applications.
The exploitation of this vulnerability can be categorized under multiple ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through unauthorized access to administrative functions and potentially account compromise. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized control over vendor accounts, manipulate marketplace operations, and potentially establish persistence within the platform. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in marketplace environments where multiple vendors rely on the platform for their business operations, as the ability to suspend accounts or manipulate orders can create significant disruptions. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader web application security assessments, particularly focusing on AJAX endpoint security and proper implementation of authorization controls. The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to version 3.8.12 or later, which implements proper authorization checks and CSRF protection mechanisms, along with regular security audits of plugin components to ensure ongoing protection against similar vulnerabilities.
Organizations using this plugin should implement additional monitoring and logging around the affected AJAX endpoints to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in WordPress plugins, particularly those handling sensitive marketplace operations. Regular security assessments of third-party plugins and maintaining up-to-date software versions form essential components of a comprehensive security strategy. The vulnerability also underscores the need for security-conscious development practices that include implementing proper authentication and CSRF protection mechanisms from the initial development phase, rather than addressing these issues as afterthoughts.