CVE-2023-4937 in BEAR Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
The BEAR for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 1.1.3.3. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the woobe_bulkoperations_apply_default_combination function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to manipulate products via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2026
The BEAR for WordPress plugin presents a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that affects versions through 1.1.3.3, creating a significant security risk for WordPress installations. This vulnerability stems from inadequate validation mechanisms within the woobe_bulkoperations_apply_default_combination function, which fails to properly implement nonce verification. The absence of proper nonce validation creates an exploitable condition where malicious actors can craft forged requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress system. This weakness represents a direct violation of web application security principles and aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities in web applications.
The technical flaw manifests when an unauthenticated attacker constructs a malicious request that targets the vulnerable plugin function without proper authentication or authorization checks. The nonce validation mechanism that should verify the legitimacy of user actions has been either omitted entirely or implemented incorrectly, allowing attackers to bypass critical security controls. This vulnerability operates under the assumption that administrators may be tricked into executing malicious actions through social engineering techniques such as clicking on compromised links. The attack vector relies heavily on user deception rather than technical exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently interact with external content or links.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it allows attackers to perform bulk operations on product data within the WordPress administration panel. Administrators could unknowingly execute actions such as modifying product combinations, updating inventory levels, or altering product configurations through the forged requests. This capability provides attackers with significant control over e-commerce operations and could result in financial losses, data corruption, or unauthorized modifications to product catalogs. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires minimal privileges from the attacker's perspective, as they only need to trick an administrator into performing a specific action rather than gaining direct access to the system.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper nonce validation within the affected plugin function. The woobe_bulkoperations_apply_default_combination function must be updated to include robust nonce verification that ensures all requests originate from legitimate administrative sessions. Organizations should immediately update to patched versions of the BEAR plugin and implement additional monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following established security frameworks such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and ATT&CK framework, specifically addressing the need for proper input validation and authentication controls. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar nonce validation issues across all WordPress plugins and themes, as this represents a common pattern of security oversight in web application development.