CVE-2023-51505 in Active Products Tables for WooCommerce. Professional products tables for WooCommerce Store Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/29/2023
Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerability in realmag777 Active Products Tables for WooCommerce. Professional products tables for WooCommerce store.This issue affects Active Products Tables for WooCommerce. Professional products tables for WooCommerce store : from n/a through 1.0.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2024
The CVE-2023-51505 vulnerability represents a critical deserialization of untrusted data flaw within the Active Products Tables for WooCommerce plugin, specifically impacting versions through 1.0.6. This vulnerability resides in the professional products tables component of the WooCommerce store ecosystem, where the plugin fails to properly validate and sanitize user-provided data during the deserialization process. The issue stems from the plugin's insecure handling of serialized data structures that originate from external sources, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the core of e-commerce data processing, where user input and product information are continuously handled through serialized formats.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when untrusted data is passed through the plugin's deserialization functions without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. Attackers can craft malicious serialized objects that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, trigger unintended code execution. This flaw directly maps to CWE-502, which categorizes deserialization of untrusted data as a critical security weakness. The vulnerability allows for remote code execution capabilities, enabling attackers to manipulate the underlying system, potentially leading to complete compromise of the WordPress installation. The attack surface is amplified by the widespread use of WooCommerce plugins and the fact that many administrators may not be aware of the specific vulnerability within this particular plugin.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-51505 extends beyond simple code execution, as it can lead to full system compromise and data exfiltration within affected WooCommerce environments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install backdoors, modify product listings, manipulate pricing information, or access sensitive customer data stored within the e-commerce platform. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the entire WooCommerce store infrastructure, potentially causing significant financial and reputational damage to businesses relying on the affected plugin. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where the plugin is used with default configurations or where administrators have not implemented additional security layers to protect against such deserialization attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically focusing on PHP-based execution paths that can be exploited through insecure deserialization.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-51505 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the deserialization vulnerability, as the vendor has likely released patches to resolve the issue. Administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and sanitization procedures, particularly for any serialized data that passes through the plugin's processing functions. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of vulnerable systems, while regular security audits should be conducted to identify any potential exploitation attempts. The implementation of Web Application Firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against known attack patterns associated with deserialization vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions that can detect unusual data processing patterns or unauthorized modifications to product information within their WooCommerce stores. Regular security training for administrators and developers can help prevent the introduction of similar vulnerabilities in custom code implementations and ensure proper handling of serialized data structures throughout the application lifecycle.