CVE-2023-4376 in Serial Codes Generator and Validator with WooCommerce Support Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/19/2023
The Serial Codes Generator and Validator with WooCommerce Support WordPress plugin before 2.4.15 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite setup)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4376 affects the Serial Codes Generator and Validator WordPress plugin with WooCommerce support, specifically impacting versions prior to 2.4.15. This security flaw resides within the plugin's handling of user input and configuration settings, creating a persistent cross-site scripting vector that can be exploited by attackers with administrative privileges. The issue manifests in environments where the unfiltered_html capability is restricted, such as multisite WordPress installations, making it particularly concerning for organizations with strict security policies.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization and escaping of user-controllable data within the plugin's administrative settings. When administrators configure the serial code generation parameters or validation rules, the plugin fails to properly process and escape these inputs before storing them in the database. This oversight creates a stored XSS vulnerability where malicious scripts can be injected into the plugin's settings and subsequently executed whenever the affected administrative interface is accessed. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it bypasses standard WordPress security measures that typically prevent unfiltered HTML input in restricted environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to administrative interfaces and potentially enables further compromise of the WordPress installation. An attacker with administrative privileges can inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the context of other administrators' browsers, allowing for session hijacking, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, creating a long-term threat vector that can affect multiple users over time.
Organizations running affected versions of this plugin should immediately update to version 2.4.15 or later, which includes proper sanitization and escaping mechanisms for all user-controllable settings. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of all plugin installations to identify any instances of the vulnerable plugin and ensure that all administrative users are properly trained on identifying and reporting potential XSS attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 (Phishing via Social Media) when used as an initial access vector, and T1071.001 (Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols) for the exploitation mechanism. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers as an additional defense-in-depth measure to mitigate the impact of potential XSS vulnerabilities in their WordPress environments.