CVE-2023-1470 in eCommerce Product Catalog Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/17/2023
The eCommerce Product Catalog plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via some of its settings parameters in versions up to, and including, 3.3.8 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level permissions and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1470 resides within the eCommerce Product Catalog plugin for WordPress, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that compromises web application security. This vulnerability specifically affects versions up to and including 3.3.8, creating a persistent threat vector that allows malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's settings parameters. The flaw manifests due to inadequate input sanitization mechanisms and insufficient output escaping controls within the plugin's codebase, which together create an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by authenticated attackers with administrator privileges or higher.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of settings parameters within the eCommerce Product Catalog plugin, where attackers can inject malicious JavaScript code that persists in the database. This stored payload executes whenever legitimate users access pages containing the injected content, creating a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time. The vulnerability's impact is particularly significant in multi-site WordPress installations where the attack can potentially propagate across multiple sites within the network. Additionally, the vulnerability's exploitation is contingent upon specific installation configurations where unfiltered_html has been disabled, which represents a security hardening measure that inadvertently creates the conditions for this particular vulnerability to manifest.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-1470 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions and user data. The vulnerability creates a persistent backdoor that can be used for session hijacking, data exfiltration, or to further compromise the WordPress installation through privilege escalation techniques. This stored XSS vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and represents a classic example of how inadequate input validation can lead to severe security consequences. The attack surface is further expanded through the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007, which covers script injection methods that can be leveraged to execute malicious code within the context of the victim's browser.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability must implement immediate remediation measures including upgrading to patched versions of the eCommerce Product Catalog plugin, which should include proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that unfiltered_html capabilities are appropriately restricted and that proper access controls are maintained. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous script injection patterns, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust input validation controls as outlined in OWASP Top Ten security practices, particularly focusing on preventing injection flaws that can lead to persistent security breaches.