CVE-2022-28666 in Custom Product Tabs for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2022
Broken Access Control vulnerability in YIKES Inc. Custom Product Tabs for WooCommerce plugin <= 1.7.7 at WordPress leading to &yikes-the-content-toggle option update.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2022-28666 represents a critical broken access control flaw within the YIKES Inc. Custom Product Tabs for WooCommerce plugin version 1.7.7 and earlier. This issue specifically affects WordPress installations where the plugin is deployed, creating a significant security risk that can be exploited by unauthorized actors. The vulnerability manifests through the &yikes-the-content-toggle option update mechanism, which should require proper authentication and authorization but instead allows malicious users to manipulate content settings without appropriate privileges.
This access control failure falls under CWE-285, which specifically addresses improper authorization issues in software systems. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass normal security controls and modify content parameters that should be restricted to authorized administrators. The flaw exists in the plugin's handling of the content toggle functionality, where user input is not properly validated or authenticated before being processed. This creates an opportunity for privilege escalation attacks where unauthenticated or low-privilege users can potentially modify product tab configurations and content settings.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple content manipulation as it can be leveraged to execute more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress ecosystem. Attackers can exploit this weakness to inject malicious content, modify product information, or potentially gain deeper access to the underlying WordPress installation. The vulnerability particularly affects WooCommerce stores where product tab configurations are critical for displaying product information and customer engagement. The issue can be exploited through various attack vectors including cross-site scripting attempts or direct parameter manipulation, making it a versatile threat to e-commerce platforms.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials use for persistence and privilege escalation. The flaw allows unauthorized actors to effectively assume administrative privileges within the plugin's scope without proper authentication. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have access to the WordPress admin interface, as the lack of proper access controls can lead to widespread content corruption. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor input validation practices that can be exploited to manipulate the plugin's internal state and configuration options.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the YIKES Inc. Custom Product Tabs for WooCommerce plugin to version 1.7.8 or later, which addresses the access control weakness. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as restricting direct access to plugin files, implementing proper role-based access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized modifications to content settings. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of installed plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar access control vulnerabilities. The incident underscores the importance of proper authentication mechanisms and input validation in plugin development, particularly for e-commerce platforms where data integrity and user trust are paramount.