CVE-2023-0068 in Product GTIN for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2023
The Product GTIN (EAN, UPC, ISBN) for WooCommerce WordPress plugin through 1.1.1 does not validate and escape some of its shortcode attributes before outputting them back in a page/post where the shortcode is embed, which could allow users with the contributor role and above to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0068 affects the GTIN (EAN, UPC, ISBN) for WooCommerce WordPress plugin version 1.1.1 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through stored cross-site scripting attacks. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary script code within the context of affected websites.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's handling of shortcode attributes where user-provided data is directly incorporated into HTML output without proper sanitization or escaping procedures. Specifically, contributors and users with higher privileges can leverage this vulnerability by embedding malicious payloads within GTIN shortcode parameters. When these shortcodes are rendered on web pages, the unescaped malicious code executes in the browsers of other users who view the affected content, making this a stored XSS vulnerability rather than a reflected one.
This vulnerability operates under the CWE-79 principle of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as a stored variant where malicious scripts are permanently stored on the target server and executed when users access the affected pages. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as attackers can potentially steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The contributor role and above access level designation indicates that even less privileged users within the WordPress ecosystem can exploit this vulnerability, amplifying the potential attack surface.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are significant for WooCommerce store owners and administrators who rely on the GTIN plugin for product catalog management. Attackers can manipulate product listings, inject malicious code into product descriptions, or compromise the integrity of the entire store's frontend presentation. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once injected, malicious payloads persist until manually removed, creating ongoing security risks for website visitors and potentially leading to further compromise of the WordPress installation through chained attacks.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability through proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms. System administrators should implement additional security measures including content security policies to limit script execution, regular monitoring of plugin directories for unauthorized modifications, and comprehensive user access reviews to minimize the attack surface. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1548.003 for Abuse of Credentials and T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, emphasizing the need for both patch management and network-level protections. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious shortcode parameter patterns while maintaining regular security audits of all installed plugins to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited.