CVE-2023-49185 in WP & WooCommerce Search Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2023
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Doofinder Doofinder WP & WooCommerce Search allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Doofinder WP & WooCommerce Search: from n/a through 2.1.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2023
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the Doofinder WordPress plugin and WooCommerce search functionality, specifically affecting versions up to 2.1.7. The flaw represents a classic reflected XSS attack vector where malicious input is not properly sanitized or escaped during web page generation processes. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to neutralize potentially harmful script content before it is rendered in user-facing web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs or form inputs that contain executable script code, which then gets reflected back to users who access the compromised pages. This creates a dangerous environment where unsuspecting users can be tricked into executing malicious scripts in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's failure to properly escape output when processing search queries or other user-provided data within the WordPress ecosystem. When users interact with the Doofinder search functionality, the plugin receives input parameters that should be sanitized before being embedded into HTML responses. The lack of proper output encoding or escaping creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript payloads that execute in the victim's browser. This weakness aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate sanitization or escaping mechanisms. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is immediately reflected back to the user through the application's response, making exploitation straightforward and immediate.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, potentially allowing attackers to compromise user sessions and steal sensitive information. An attacker could craft malicious search queries that, when executed by other users, would steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive data from authenticated users. The vulnerability affects the WordPress plugin ecosystem where Doofinder operates, making it particularly dangerous as it can target users who have administrative privileges or access to sensitive data within the WooCommerce environment. This creates a significant risk for e-commerce sites that rely on Doofinder for search functionality, as attackers could potentially gain access to customer data, order information, or payment details. The reflected XSS nature means that exploitation requires user interaction with a malicious link, but once triggered, the attack can persist across multiple sessions and user interactions.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the Doofinder plugin to versions that properly sanitize input and escape output during web page generation processes. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms that follow established security practices for preventing XSS attacks. The recommended approach involves applying the vendor-provided security patches as soon as they become available, while also implementing additional security controls such as Content Security Policy headers to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious traffic patterns associated with XSS attack attempts, and security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar weaknesses in other plugins or components of the WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing proper input sanitization practices across all web application components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1213 for credential access through web application vulnerabilities.