CVE-2023-4942 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_visibility 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 up to and including 1.1.3.3. This vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the woobe_bulkoperations_visibility function, which fails to properly validate nonces. The absence of proper nonce verification creates a pathway for malicious actors to execute unauthorized actions against the affected WordPress site. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's bulk operations functionality, which allows administrators to modify product visibility settings in bulk. This flaw represents a significant security weakness that directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of e-commerce operations managed through the WordPress platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of the plugin's administrative interface where bulk product visibility modifications occur. When an administrator performs bulk operations through the woobe_bulkoperations_visibility function, the system should validate that the request originates from a legitimate administrative session through proper nonce verification. However, the current implementation lacks this crucial validation mechanism, allowing attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated administrators. This flaw operates under the principle that the system cannot distinguish between genuine administrative requests and forged requests, creating a persistent attack surface that remains accessible to unauthenticated threat actors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass potential business disruption and financial loss. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability could alter product visibility settings, potentially removing key products from customer view or making competitors' products visible to customers. This manipulation could result in significant revenue loss, customer confusion, and damage to brand reputation. The vulnerability particularly affects e-commerce sites where product visibility directly correlates with sales performance and customer engagement metrics. Additionally, the attack requires only that administrators be tricked into clicking malicious links, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently interact with external content or email communications.
From a security framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation and insufficient session management controls that violate fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1213.002, which involves data from information repositories, as attackers can potentially access and manipulate product data through this vector. The vulnerability also relates to T1566.001, which covers spearphishing with a link, as it requires social engineering to trick administrators into executing malicious requests. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including the mandatory update to patched versions, implementation of additional authentication controls, and regular security audits of plugin configurations.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate deployment of the patched version of the BEAR plugin, which should include proper nonce validation mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls, enhanced monitoring of administrative actions, and regular security assessments of all installed plugins. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper authentication and authorization controls in web applications, particularly in e-commerce environments where data integrity and user trust are paramount. Organizations should establish regular update schedules for all third-party components and maintain comprehensive security testing procedures to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.