CVE-2024-0768 in Elementor Templates & Widgets for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2024
The Envo's Elementor Templates & Widgets for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to and including 1.4.4. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the ajax_theme_activation function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to activate arbitrary installed themes 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 • 04/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0768 affects the Envo Elementor Templates & Widgets for WooCommerce plugin, a popular WordPress extension that enhances e-commerce functionality through customizable templates and widgets. This plugin, designed to integrate seamlessly with WooCommerce stores, has been found to contain a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that could allow unauthorized individuals to manipulate the plugin's functionality. The issue specifically impacts versions up to and including 1.4.4, making a significant portion of users potentially vulnerable to exploitation. The vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls within the plugin's ajax_theme_activation function, which is responsible for handling theme activation requests through asynchronous javascript calls. This function fails to properly validate nonce tokens that should serve as cryptographic proof of legitimate user intent and authorization.
The technical flaw represents a classic CSRF weakness where the plugin does not adequately verify the authenticity of requests made to the ajax_theme_activation endpoint. Nonce validation is a fundamental security mechanism that ensures requests originate from legitimate sources within the same session and that users have explicitly authorized the actions they are performing. When this validation is missing or incorrectly implemented, attackers can craft malicious requests that appear to come from authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows unauthenticated attackers to activate arbitrary themes on a target website simply by tricking an administrator into clicking on a malicious link. This type of attack leverages social engineering techniques where administrators are诱导ed to perform actions that inadvertently execute malicious code. The attack vector demonstrates how CSRF vulnerabilities can be exploited even when users are not directly targeted, as the malicious request can be embedded in carefully crafted web pages or emails that administrators might visit or click on without realizing the implications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple theme activation, as theme manipulation can potentially compromise the entire website's security posture. When an attacker successfully activates an arbitrary theme, they may be able to execute malicious code, modify website content, or gain access to sensitive data that could be exposed through theme-specific functionality. This vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to potentially escalate their privileges or gain unauthorized access to administrative functions within the WordPress environment. The implications are particularly severe for WooCommerce stores where theme modifications could affect payment processing, customer data handling, or other critical business operations. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery issues, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege where unauthorized parties can perform administrative actions. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts used for unauthorized access, as the attack requires only a victim to click on a malicious link rather than needing to compromise actual user credentials. The potential for widespread impact increases when considering that the Envo plugin is used across numerous WooCommerce installations, making this vulnerability a significant concern for the WordPress ecosystem.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the plugin where the CSRF protection has been properly implemented. The plugin developers should have addressed this issue by adding proper nonce validation to the ajax_theme_activation function, ensuring that all requests are verified against legitimate user sessions before executing any theme activation operations. Additionally, administrators should implement additional security measures such as monitoring for unauthorized theme changes, implementing web application firewalls to detect suspicious requests, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The security community should also consider this vulnerability as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation and authentication mechanisms in web applications. Network administrators should be aware that this vulnerability may be exploited in combination with other attacks, such as those targeting the WordPress core or other plugins, and should maintain comprehensive monitoring of their systems for signs of compromise. The incident highlights the critical need for developers to follow established security guidelines and for organizations to maintain up-to-date security practices including regular plugin updates and security assessments. The vulnerability serves as a concrete example of how seemingly minor security oversights in plugin development can create significant risks for entire web applications and underscores the importance of adhering to security best practices throughout the software development lifecycle.