CVE-2022-3537 in Role Based Pricing for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2022
The Role Based Pricing for WooCommerce WordPress plugin before 1.6.2 does not have authorisation and proper CSRF checks, and does not validate files to be uploaded, allowing any authenticated users like subscriber to upload arbitrary files, such as PHP
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3537 affects the Role Based Pricing for WooCommerce WordPress plugin version 1.6.1 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw that undermines the plugin's integrity and the broader WordPress ecosystem. This issue stems from insufficient authorization mechanisms and the absence of proper cross-site request forgery protection within the plugin's file upload functionality, creating a significant attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to implement adequate validation checks for uploaded files, particularly lacking proper sanitization and content verification processes. This vulnerability allows any authenticated user account, including low-privilege subscribers, to bypass normal security restrictions and upload arbitrary files to the target system. The absence of file type validation, content inspection, and proper access control measures creates an exploitable condition where attackers can upload malicious PHP files that can execute arbitrary code on the server, effectively compromising the entire WordPress installation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a severe privilege escalation threat that can be exploited by attackers who gain access to any user account, regardless of their role within the WordPress system. The impact extends beyond simple file upload capabilities, as the ability to execute arbitrary PHP code provides attackers with complete control over the affected server, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and further lateral movement within compromised networks. The vulnerability directly violates security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with CWE-434, which addresses insecure file upload vulnerabilities that allow attackers to upload malicious files.
The exploitation of this vulnerability can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1190, which involves exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications to gain unauthorized access and execute malicious code. Attackers can leverage this weakness to deploy web shells, backdoors, or other malicious payloads that can persistently compromise the system. The lack of proper CSRF protection further exacerbates the risk, as authenticated users could be tricked into uploading files through social engineering or compromised sessions.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to version 1.6.2 or later of the Role Based Pricing for WooCommerce plugin, which includes proper authorization checks and file validation mechanisms. Additionally, implementing network-level restrictions, monitoring for unusual file upload activities, and conducting regular security audits of WordPress plugins can help prevent exploitation. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and access control implementations in web applications, aligning with security standards such as ISO 27001 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks that emphasize the need for robust authentication and authorization mechanisms to prevent unauthorized system access and privilege escalation attacks.