CVE-2024-10640 in FOX Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2024
The The FOX – Currency Switcher Professional for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to arbitrary shortcode execution in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.2.2. This is due to the software allowing users to execute an action that does not properly validate a value before running do_shortcode. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary shortcodes.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-10640 affects the FOX – Currency Switcher Professional for WooCommerce plugin, a widely used WordPress extension that enables currency conversion functionality on e-commerce sites. This plugin operates within the WordPress ecosystem and integrates with WooCommerce to provide multi-currency support for online stores. The vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.4.2.2, making it a significant security risk for any WordPress site utilizing this plugin. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation within the plugin's shortcode execution mechanism, creating an avenue for unauthorized code execution that could compromise entire WordPress installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of user-supplied data through shortcode parameters. When the plugin processes certain user inputs, it fails to properly validate or sanitize the values before executing the do_shortcode function. This improper validation creates a path for attackers to inject malicious shortcode content that gets executed within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's currency switching functionality where user inputs are processed without adequate security checks. This flaw operates at the level of WordPress shortcode processing, where the do_shortcode function is designed to execute shortcode content, but the validation mechanism fails to prevent malicious payloads from being processed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a means to escalate privileges and potentially gain complete control over affected WordPress installations. Unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary shortcodes, which could include malicious content such as phishing forms, malware injection scripts, or commands to modify site content. The implications are particularly severe for e-commerce sites that rely on the FOX plugin, as attackers could potentially modify product prices, redirect customers to malicious sites, or extract sensitive customer data. This vulnerability also aligns with common attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter, where adversaries execute code through legitimate system processes.
Security researchers have identified this issue as a critical weakness that violates fundamental principles of input validation and sanitization. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and CWE-79, which covers cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution. The flaw represents a classic example of how insufficient data validation can create persistent security risks in web applications. Organizations using affected versions of the FOX plugin are at risk of data breaches, site defacement, and potential compromise of customer information. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by anyone accessing the affected website. Remediation efforts must include immediate patching of the plugin to version 1.4.2.3 or later, along with comprehensive monitoring of affected sites for signs of compromise. Security teams should also implement network-based detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts and consider temporary mitigation strategies such as restricting shortcode execution until proper patches are applied.