CVE-2023-25702 in Fullworks Quick Paypal Payments plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2023
Auth. (admin+) Stored Cross-site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Fullworks Quick Paypal Payments plugin <= 5.7.25 versions.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2023
The CVE-2023-25702 vulnerability represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Fullworks Quick Paypal Payments WordPress plugin affecting versions up to and including 5.7.25. This vulnerability specifically targets administrative users with privileges equal to or greater than administrator level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by attackers who have gained administrative access or by those who can manipulate the plugin's administrative interface. The flaw exists in how the plugin handles user input when processing payment-related data, creating a persistent XSS vector that can execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated admin sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's backend processing functions. When administrators interact with the plugin's administrative interface to manage payment settings, transaction records, or customer data, the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing it in the database. This stored data is then later retrieved and displayed without adequate HTML escaping, creating a classic stored XSS scenario where malicious JavaScript code can be injected and executed whenever authorized users view the affected pages. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's handling of payment-related parameters and administrative form submissions, making it particularly insidious in the context of payment processing systems where administrators frequently interact with sensitive transaction data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with persistent access to administrative functions and sensitive data within the WordPress environment. Once exploited, the malicious scripts can capture administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, inject additional malware, or perform actions within the WordPress admin interface that could compromise the entire site. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, continuously affecting any user who views the affected pages until the malicious payload is removed from the database. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for e-commerce sites relying on PayPal payment processing, as attackers could potentially intercept payment information, modify transaction records, or gain complete administrative control over the site.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their systems. The most critical immediate action involves updating to the latest version of the Fullworks Quick Paypal Payments plugin where the XSS vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the WordPress environment can provide additional defense-in-depth. Security professionals should also consider implementing content security policies to limit script execution capabilities, monitoring for suspicious administrative activities, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices for input sanitization and output encoding. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for credential access, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code and potentially escalate privileges within the WordPress environment, making it a critical concern for organizations maintaining online payment systems and e-commerce platforms.