CVE-2023-49828 in WooPayments Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/14/2023
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Automattic WooPayments – Fully Integrated Solution Built and Supported by Woo allows Stored XSS.This issue affects WooPayments – Fully Integrated Solution Built and Supported by Woo: from n/a through 6.4.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2024
The CVE-2023-49828 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness in Automattic WooPayments, a widely deployed e-commerce payment solution integrated into WordPress environments. This stored cross-site scripting vulnerability arises from inadequate input sanitization during web page generation processes, creating persistent security risks for merchants and end-users who interact with payment processing interfaces. The flaw specifically impacts versions of WooPayments from the initial release through 6.4.2, indicating a prolonged window of exposure for affected systems. The vulnerability's classification as a stored XSS attack means that malicious input can be permanently injected into the application's database and subsequently executed whenever legitimate users access affected pages, making it particularly dangerous for payment processing environments where sensitive transaction data is handled.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of user-supplied input within the web page generation pipeline. When merchants or administrators input data through various interface components, the application fails to adequately sanitize or escape potentially malicious content before storing it in the database. This stored data is then retrieved and rendered in subsequent user sessions without proper context-aware escaping mechanisms. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of web application security and data validation, where input validation occurs too late in the processing cycle or insufficiently addresses the full spectrum of potential attack vectors. According to CWE-79, this represents a classic cross-site scripting implementation where the application fails to properly escape output, allowing attacker-controlled data to be executed as script code within the browser context of other users. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once malicious input is accepted and processed, it persists in the system and can affect multiple users over time.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-49828 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to compromise payment processing environments. In the context of e-commerce platforms, this vulnerability could enable attackers to steal sensitive payment information, manipulate transaction records, or redirect users to malicious sites for credential harvesting. The attack surface includes merchant dashboard interfaces, payment processing forms, and customer-facing payment confirmation pages where user input is accepted and subsequently displayed. The vulnerability's presence in WooPayments specifically targets the WordPress ecosystem's payment processing capabilities, making it particularly dangerous for businesses relying on this platform for their online commerce operations. According to ATT&CK framework technique T1566, this vulnerability represents a persistent method for initial access and privilege escalation within payment processing environments, potentially allowing attackers to establish long-term presence within merchant systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-49828 require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams managing affected WooPayments installations. The primary remediation involves upgrading to versions beyond 6.4.2 where the XSS vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers including client-side and server-side processing, ensuring that all user-supplied data undergoes strict sanitization before database storage. Security teams should also deploy web application firewalls with XSS detection capabilities and implement content security policies that limit script execution within payment processing interfaces. Regular security audits of payment processing components should include testing for stored XSS vulnerabilities, particularly in areas where user input is accepted and displayed in subsequent user sessions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing robust input validation practices as outlined in OWASP Top 10 security principles, specifically addressing the prevention of cross-site scripting attacks through proper data sanitization and context-appropriate output encoding.