CVE-2023-48747 in Booster for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2024
Improper Authentication vulnerability in Pluggabl LLC Booster for WooCommerce allows Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs.This issue affects Booster for WooCommerce: from n/a through 7.1.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-48747 represents a critical improper authentication flaw within the Booster for WooCommerce plugin developed by Pluggabl LLC. This security weakness manifests as an access control bypass that allows unauthorized users to access functionality that should be restricted by proper access control lists. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of the plugin ranging from the initial release through version 7.1.2, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors seeking to gain unauthorized access to administrative features.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate authentication mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, where the system fails to properly verify user credentials or roles before granting access to sensitive administrative functions. This flaw allows attackers to bypass the intended authorization controls that should restrict access to specific features based on user permissions. The improper authentication occurs at the application level where the plugin does not adequately validate whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to perform certain actions, effectively creating a pathway for unauthorized access to restricted functionality.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to WooCommerce stores utilizing the affected plugin version. An attacker who successfully exploits this weakness could potentially gain access to administrative panels, modify store configurations, manipulate product data, access customer information, and execute other privileged actions without proper authentication. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential service disruption, data manipulation, and unauthorized modifications to the e-commerce platform's core functionality. This vulnerability particularly threatens online businesses that rely heavily on WooCommerce for their operations, as it could lead to significant financial losses and reputational damage.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern access control mechanisms. According to ATT&CK framework category T1078, this vulnerability enables adversaries to gain access to accounts with elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to maintain persistent access to the compromised system. Organizations using this plugin should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing additional network-level access controls, and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts. The remediation process should also involve conducting thorough security assessments of the affected systems and reviewing access control configurations to ensure proper implementation of authentication mechanisms.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of proper access control implementation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive commerce data. Security practitioners should emphasize the need for regular security audits of third-party plugins and maintain up-to-date vulnerability databases to quickly identify and address similar issues in other software components. Organizations must also establish robust patch management processes that can quickly deploy security updates to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The incident underscores the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that combine multiple security controls to protect against various attack vectors, including those that exploit authentication weaknesses in commonly used plugins and applications.