CVE-2023-35876 in Square Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2023
Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability in WooCommerce WooCommerce Square.This issue affects WooCommerce Square: from n/a through 3.8.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2024
The CVE-2023-35876 vulnerability represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the WooCommerce Square plugin, specifically targeting versions ranging from the initial release through 3.8.1. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of authorization bypass issues that can severely compromise the security posture of e-commerce platforms relying on the affected plugin. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of user-controlled input within the authentication and authorization mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to potentially exploit the system's access controls.
This authorization bypass occurs due to insufficient validation of keys or tokens that are typically controlled by users within the WooCommerce Square integration. The technical flaw manifests when the plugin fails to properly verify the legitimacy of user-provided keys or authorization tokens, enabling unauthorized individuals to manipulate the authentication flow. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to bypass normal access controls that should restrict sensitive operations to authorized users only. The affected plugin's handling of user-controlled keys creates a pathway for privilege escalation, where an attacker with minimal privileges could potentially gain access to administrative functions or sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable comprehensive compromise of the e-commerce platform's financial and customer data. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially manipulate payment processing, access customer information, modify transaction records, or even gain administrative control over the WooCommerce installation. The implications are severe given that WooCommerce Square integrates directly with payment processing systems, making the potential attack surface particularly valuable to threat actors. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of payment transactions, customer data, and business operations within affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-35876 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected WooCommerce Square plugin to version 3.8.2 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of authentication logs and access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and maps to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access. Network segmentation and least privilege access controls should be enforced to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all WooCommerce plugins and ensure regular updates to maintain security posture against similar authorization bypass threats.