CVE-2023-35915 in WooCommerce Payments Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/20/2023
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') vulnerability in Automattic WooPayments – Fully Integrated Solution Built and Supported by Woo.This issue affects WooPayments – Fully Integrated Solution Built and Supported by Woo: from n/a through 5.9.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2023
This sql injection vulnerability represents a critical weakness in the database query execution process within the woo payments payment processing system. The flaw occurs when user-supplied input containing special sql characters or commands is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into sql queries. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary sql code that can manipulate the database operations, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of woo payments from n/a through 5.9.0, indicating a prolonged exposure window where systems could be compromised. The improper neutralization of special elements means that characters such as single quotes, semicolons, or sql comments are not adequately escaped or filtered, creating pathways for attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms and execute unauthorized database operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameterized query construction within the payment processing module. When user data flows through the system without proper sanitization, it creates opportunities for attackers to craft malicious payloads that exploit the sql injection vector. This weakness aligns with cwes 89 and 749, which categorize sql injection as a fundamental database security flaw involving improper handling of untrusted input in database operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning because payment processing systems typically handle sensitive financial data, making this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking unauthorized access to transaction records, customer information, or system credentials.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise to potentially enable full system takeover capabilities. Attackers could leverage sql injection to escalate privileges within the database, extract complete customer payment histories, modify transaction amounts, or even delete critical payment infrastructure data. The consequences include potential regulatory violations under pci dss standards due to inadequate protection of cardholder data, financial losses from fraudulent transactions, and reputational damage from data breaches. Organizations using affected versions of woo payments face significant risk exposure since the vulnerability allows for persistent access to payment processing systems through simple sql injection techniques that require minimal sophistication to exploit.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching to versions beyond 5.9.0 where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and parameterized query implementations. System administrators must implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers including application code, database access controls, and web application firewalls to prevent malicious sql payloads from reaching database engines. The implementation of least privilege database accounts with restricted permissions helps minimize potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of their payment processing infrastructure, monitor for unusual database activity patterns, and maintain comprehensive audit logs to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security testing including automated sql injection scanning tools and manual penetration testing should be implemented as part of ongoing vulnerability management programs to identify similar weaknesses in other system components that may not yet be addressed by current patches or defensive measures.