CVE-2022-4791 in Product Slider and Carousel with Category for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2023
The Product Slider and Carousel with Category for WooCommerce WordPress plugin before 2.8 does not validate and escape one of its shortcode attributes, which could allow users with a role as low as contributor to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2023
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2022-4791 affects the Product Slider and Carousel with Category for WooCommerce WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 2.8. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress sites utilizing this plugin. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode implementation, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject persistent malicious code into the WordPress environment.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's handling of shortcode attributes, where one particular attribute fails to undergo proper sanitization processes. This weakness allows users with contributor-level privileges to execute stored cross-site scripting attacks by embedding malicious scripts within the affected shortcode parameters. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically addressing cross-site scripting flaws. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts persist in the database and can affect multiple users who view the affected content, making the attack vector particularly dangerous in multi-user environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to manipulate the plugin's functionality and potentially escalate their privileges within the WordPress environment. Contributors typically have limited capabilities such as publishing posts and comments, but this vulnerability allows them to bypass normal security restrictions and inject malicious payloads that can persist across user sessions. The attack can result in unauthorized data access, session hijacking, defacement of product displays, and potential redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1546.001 which involves creating or modifying system processes to establish persistence, as malicious scripts can be stored and executed repeatedly.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to version 2.8 or later, which addresses the validation and escaping deficiencies in the shortcode attribute handling. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including role-based access controls, regular security audits of plugin installations, and monitoring for unauthorized shortcode modifications. The WordPress security team recommends that all users update their installations immediately to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability exists in the core plugin functionality and affects the entire WordPress ecosystem that relies on this particular plugin for product display management.