CVE-2022-44634 in Import Shopify to WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2022
Auth. (admin+) Arbitrary File Read vulnerability in S2W – Import Shopify to WooCommerce plugin
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2025
The CVE-2022-44634 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass issue within the S2W – Import Shopify to WooCommerce plugin, which affects WordPress installations. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's administrative functionality and allows authenticated users with administrator privileges or higher to perform arbitrary file read operations. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the plugin's file handling functions, creating a path for unauthorized data extraction from the server's file system.
This security weakness operates through a direct method invocation pattern where the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied parameters before processing file operations. The vulnerability specifically manifests when administrative users interact with the import functionality, particularly during Shopify data migration processes. Attackers can exploit this by manipulating file path parameters within the plugin's administrative interface, potentially accessing sensitive files including configuration files, database credentials, wp-config.php, and other system files that contain confidential information. The issue is classified as a privilege escalation vulnerability under CWE-269, which involves improper privileges for administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques. An attacker with administrator access can leverage this flaw to extract WordPress core files, plugin files, theme files, and potentially sensitive database connection details. This information can then be used for further attacks including credential reuse, privilege escalation to other systems, or even complete system takeover. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers credential access through exploitation of software vulnerabilities, and T1078 which covers valid accounts usage for persistence.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-44634 should include immediate plugin updates from the vendor, which typically involve implementing proper input sanitization, parameter validation, and access control checks. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit administrative access to only necessary personnel. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for unusual file access patterns, implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious parameter manipulation attempts, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper security testing for third-party plugins, particularly those handling sensitive data migration processes, and underscores the need for maintaining updated software versions to prevent exploitation of known security flaws. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in their WordPress installations.