CVE-2022-3536 in Role Based Pricing for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2022
The Role Based Pricing for WooCommerce WordPress plugin before 1.6.3 does not have authorisation and proper CSRF checks, as well as does not validate path given via user input, allowing any authenticated users like subscriber to perform PHAR deserialization attacks when they can upload a file, and a suitable gadget chain is present on the blog
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3536 affects the Role Based Pricing for WooCommerce WordPress plugin version 1.6.2 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk that exploits multiple weakness areas within the plugin's architecture. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user input and authentication mechanisms, creating a pathway for unauthorized privilege escalation and remote code execution. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper authorization controls and Cross-Site Request Forgery protection measures, which are fundamental security requirements for any web application component handling user data or file operations.
The technical flaw manifests through the plugin's insufficient validation of file upload paths and lack of proper authentication checks for administrative functions. An authenticated user with subscriber-level privileges can exploit this vulnerability by uploading a malicious file that triggers PHAR deserialization when the system processes the uploaded content. This deserialization vulnerability occurs because the plugin does not properly sanitize or validate the file paths provided by users, allowing attackers to manipulate the file processing logic. The vulnerability creates a path traversal scenario where attacker-controlled input can influence the file system operations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on the affected WordPress installation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows any authenticated user to escalate their privileges and execute malicious code on the target system. The attacker does not require administrator credentials or elevated privileges to exploit this vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous for WordPress installations where multiple user roles exist. The ability to perform PHAR deserialization attacks through file uploads creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for various malicious activities including data exfiltration, system compromise, or establishing backdoors. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete system compromise if the web server has sufficient permissions to execute arbitrary code.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-22, which covers Path Traversal, demonstrating how multiple security weaknesses compound to create a more severe threat. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts, T1566 Phishing, and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it allows attackers to leverage legitimate user accounts to execute malicious commands and potentially expand their access within the network. The exploitation process requires the attacker to first establish an authenticated session, then upload a malicious file, and finally trigger the PHAR deserialization through the vulnerable file processing logic. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unusual file upload patterns, and ensuring that all WordPress plugins are kept up to date with security patches to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediately updating the Role Based Pricing for WooCommerce plugin to version 1.6.3 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including restricting file upload capabilities, implementing proper input validation for all user-provided data, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins and themes. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining proper authentication controls and CSRF protection mechanisms, particularly in plugins that handle user uploads or administrative functions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive backup procedures to quickly recover from any successful attacks.