CVE-2023-40002 in Booster for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/23/2023
Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability in Pluggabl LLC Booster for WooCommerce plugin <= 7.1.1 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2023
The CVE-2023-40002 vulnerability represents a critical exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors within the Pluggabl LLC Booster for WooCommerce plugin, affecting versions up to and including 7.1.1. This vulnerability arises from inadequate access controls and improper data handling mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating a pathway for malicious actors to obtain confidential information that should remain restricted to authorized users only. The issue stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate user permissions when accessing certain administrative endpoints, allowing unauthorized parties to exploit this weakness and gain access to sensitive data.
The technical flaw manifests through improper authentication checks and insufficient input validation within the plugin's administrative interfaces. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting specific requests to the affected plugin endpoints, bypassing normal authorization procedures that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive configuration data, user information, and potentially payment details. The vulnerability exists in the way the plugin processes requests to retrieve and display administrative information, where the system fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses appropriate privileges before exposing sensitive data. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors, and falls under the broader category of information disclosure vulnerabilities that can have severe operational consequences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can lead to comprehensive compromise of e-commerce operations and customer data integrity. Unauthorized access to sensitive information may include customer personal details, order histories, payment information, and administrative configurations that could be exploited for further attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects WooCommerce stores that rely on the Booster plugin for additional functionality, potentially exposing thousands of online businesses to data breaches and regulatory compliance violations. The impact is exacerbated by the plugin's widespread adoption, meaning that a single vulnerability can affect numerous e-commerce platforms simultaneously, creating a significant risk landscape for digital commerce operations.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to the patched version of the Booster for WooCommerce plugin, which addresses the access control vulnerabilities through proper authentication checks and input validation mechanisms. Network segmentation and monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns to administrative endpoints, while role-based access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive plugin features. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities and implement automated patch management processes. The remediation efforts should align with ATT&CK framework's T1566.001 technique related to credential access through exploitation of vulnerabilities, ensuring that defensive measures address both the immediate threat and prevent similar exploitation vectors from being leveraged in future attacks. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar information disclosure vulnerabilities across the entire digital infrastructure.