CVE-2023-50877 in Product Filter by WBW Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/09/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in woobewoo Product Filter by WBW allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Product Filter by WBW: from n/a through 2.5.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
The CVE-2023-50877 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the woobewoo Product Filter plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions ranging from an unspecified minimum to 2.5.0. This security weakness stems from incorrectly configured access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions before granting access to sensitive administrative functions. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's product filtering capabilities, where unauthorized users can potentially exploit the misconfigured access controls to perform actions they should not be permitted to execute. This misconfiguration allows attackers to bypass standard authentication and authorization checks that should normally restrict access to administrative features.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the plugin's failure to properly verify user roles and capabilities when processing filter requests. When users interact with the product filtering interface, the system should validate whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to modify or access specific filter configurations. However, the current implementation lacks proper authorization checks, enabling any authenticated user to potentially manipulate filter settings or access restricted administrative functions. This flaw operates under the CWE-285 principle of incorrect authorization, where the system fails to properly enforce access control policies. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's administrative interface components that handle product filter configurations, which typically require administrator-level privileges to modify.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it could enable attackers to manipulate product display settings, modify filter parameters, or potentially gain deeper access to the WordPress administration panel. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could alter product visibility settings, change filter criteria that affect how customers browse products, or potentially access sensitive data through the compromised filter functionality. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where multiple users have access to the WordPress installation, as any authenticated user could potentially leverage this weakness. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which involves valid accounts and T1566.002 which covers spearphishing via social media, as attackers could use this weakness to escalate privileges within the WordPress environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-50877 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization flaw, as vendors typically release patches to resolve such access control vulnerabilities. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring of administrative actions within the WordPress environment, particularly around product filter configurations and related plugin functions. The implementation of role-based access controls should be reviewed to ensure that only users with appropriate privileges can access sensitive plugin features. Security professionals should consider implementing network-level restrictions and monitoring for unusual administrative activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough security assessments of all installed plugins to identify similar authorization flaws, as this vulnerability type often indicates broader security misconfigurations within the WordPress ecosystem. The remediation process should include verifying that all user roles have appropriate permissions and that the plugin's access control mechanisms properly validate user capabilities before executing administrative functions.