CVE-2023-35914 in Woo Subscriptions Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2023
Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key vulnerability in WooCommerce Woo Subscriptions.This issue affects Woo Subscriptions: from n/a through 5.1.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-35914 represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the WooCommerce Woo Subscriptions plugin, specifically targeting versions prior to 5.1.3. This weakness allows authenticated users to manipulate subscription data through user-controlled keys, effectively circumventing the intended access controls that should restrict subscription management to authorized parties. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of subscription keys during critical operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to subscription details and potentially modify subscription terms or status.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the improper handling of subscription key parameters within the plugin's authorization mechanisms. When users perform subscription-related actions, the system should verify that the requesting user has legitimate permissions to modify the specified subscription. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to supply arbitrary subscription keys that bypass these checks, enabling them to access or manipulate subscriptions belonging to other users. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-285 category of improper authorization, specifically manifesting as an authorization bypass where user-controllable inputs are not properly validated against the actual subscription ownership.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data access, as it creates potential for subscription fraud, unauthorized service modifications, and data integrity breaches within e-commerce environments. Attackers could exploit this weakness to view sensitive subscription information including payment details, billing cycles, and customer service data. The implications are particularly severe in environments where subscription services are critical business assets, as unauthorized modifications could lead to revenue loss, customer service disruptions, and potential legal compliance violations. The vulnerability affects not just individual user accounts but could potentially enable broader system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and proper access control mechanisms within the subscription management system. Immediate patching to version 5.1.3 or later is essential to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for unauthorized subscription access attempts and establish proper audit trails for subscription modifications. The remediation process should include validating subscription ownership before processing any subscription-related requests and ensuring that all user-controllable keys are properly authenticated against the system's authorization framework. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.002 for phishing, as it could enable attackers to leverage compromised user credentials to gain unauthorized subscription access. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege controls and regular security assessments to prevent similar authorization bypass scenarios in their e-commerce platforms.