CVE-2023-45054 in Product Category Tree Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Unauth. Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in AWESOME TOGI Product Category Tree plugin <= 2.5 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/11/2023
The CVE-2023-45054 vulnerability represents a critical unauthenticated reflected cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the AWESOME TOGI Product Category Tree WordPress plugin. This vulnerability affects versions 2.5 and earlier, exposing websites utilizing this plugin to potential exploitation by malicious actors without requiring any authentication credentials. The flaw resides in how the plugin handles user input within its product category tree functionality, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload is reflected off the web server and delivered to victims through crafted URLs that contain the malicious script. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category for Cross-Site Scripting, specifically classified as a reflected XSS attack pattern where the malicious script originates from the web application itself rather than being stored on the server. The vulnerability's impact is significant as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The AWESOME TOGI Product Category Tree plugin serves as a specialized tool for organizing and displaying product categories within WordPress e-commerce environments, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for online stores and businesses relying on WordPress for their digital commerce operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's handling of URL parameters. When users navigate to specific product category pages or perform actions within the plugin's interface, the application fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into dynamic web page content. This oversight creates a window where an attacker can craft malicious URLs containing JavaScript payloads that get executed when other users access the affected pages. The vulnerability typically manifests when parameters related to product categories, sorting options, or display settings are not adequately escaped or validated before being rendered in HTML output. The reflected nature of the attack means that the malicious code is not stored on the server but is instead passed through the web application and immediately reflected back to the user's browser, making it difficult to detect through traditional security scanning methods. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by sending crafted links to unsuspecting users through phishing emails, social engineering campaigns, or by exploiting the vulnerability in web application firewalls that may not properly detect the reflected nature of the attack. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be accomplished through simple URL manipulation techniques, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-45054 extends beyond simple script execution, potentially enabling attackers to compromise entire user sessions and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows malicious actors to steal session cookies, which can then be used to impersonate legitimate users and access restricted areas of the website. This capability becomes especially dangerous in e-commerce environments where users may have administrative privileges or access to sensitive customer data. The vulnerability also enables attackers to redirect users to malicious websites, install malware, or perform actions on behalf of the victim within the context of the vulnerable website. The impact on business operations can be substantial, including potential data breaches, loss of customer trust, damage to brand reputation, and potential regulatory compliance violations. Organizations using affected plugin versions may face increased risk of account takeovers, unauthorized transactions, and exposure of sensitive business information. The vulnerability's presence in a product category management plugin specifically targets online stores and businesses that rely on WordPress for their commerce infrastructure, making it particularly relevant for retail environments and e-commerce platforms. Security teams must consider the potential for cascading effects, as compromised user sessions could lead to further exploitation of other systems within the organization's network.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-45054 require immediate action to address the reflected XSS vulnerability in the AWESOME TOGI Product Category Tree plugin. The most effective immediate solution is to upgrade to the latest available version of the plugin where the vulnerability has been patched, as vendors typically release security updates to address such flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other parts of their web applications, following the principle of least privilege and defense in depth. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all installed plugins and themes to identify potential similar issues that may exist within the WordPress ecosystem. Implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded and executed within the browser context. Regular security monitoring and web application firewall (WAF) configuration should be employed to detect and block malicious traffic patterns associated with known XSS attack vectors. Organizations should also establish robust patch management processes to ensure timely updates of all web application components, particularly those handling user input. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter highlights the importance of monitoring for suspicious script execution patterns and implementing proper access controls to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire web application infrastructure.