CVE-2023-27627 in Woocommerce Email Report Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/08/2023
Unauth. Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in eggemplo Woocommerce Email Report plugin <= 2.4 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2023
The CVE-2023-27627 vulnerability represents a critical unauthenticated reflected cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the eggemplo Woocommerce Email Report plugin version 2.4 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects WordPress-based e-commerce environments where the plugin is installed and actively used. The flaw resides in how the plugin processes and handles user input parameters within its email reporting functionality, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability is classified as reflected XSS because the malicious script is reflected off the web server rather than being stored on the server, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user input through URL parameters or form submissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's codebase. When users access specific URL endpoints or submit data through the plugin's email reporting interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied data before rendering it in web responses. This allows attackers to craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when executed by victim browsers, can perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the user. The vulnerability typically manifests when parameters such as email addresses, report types, or other user-provided data are directly incorporated into HTML output without proper encoding or validation. The flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how insufficient input sanitization creates persistent security weaknesses in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-27627 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and unauthorized administrative actions within the compromised WordPress environment. An attacker could potentially exploit this vulnerability to steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, or inject persistent malicious scripts that compromise all users who view affected pages. The vulnerability affects not only individual user experiences but also poses significant risks to e-commerce operations, as compromised email reports could contain sensitive customer data or be used to manipulate business-critical information. Given that the plugin targets WooCommerce environments, the impact could be particularly severe for online retailers handling financial transactions and personal customer information, potentially leading to financial fraud, data breaches, and regulatory compliance violations.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to protect their systems and users. The primary recommendation involves updating the eggemplo Woocommerce Email Report plugin to version 2.5 or later, where the XSS vulnerability has been patched and properly addressed through enhanced input validation and output sanitization measures. Additionally, implementing proper content security policies can help prevent script execution even if other mitigations fail. Security professionals should also consider deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script payloads targeting known XSS patterns. Regular security audits and monitoring of plugin repositories for vulnerabilities can help prevent similar issues in the future. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566.001, which covers Social Engineering through phishing attacks, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised email reports. Organizations should also implement strict access controls and user permission management to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, ensuring that even if an XSS attack succeeds, attackers cannot escalate privileges or access sensitive system components.