CVE-2024-1732 in Sharkdropship for AliExpress Dropshipping and Affiliate Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/02/2024
The Sharkdropship for AliExpress Dropshipping and Affiliate plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized loss of data due to a missing capability check on the wads_removeProductFromShop() function in all versions up to, and including, 2.2.4. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to delete arbitrary posts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2026
The Sharkdropship for AliExpress Dropshipping and Affiliate plugin presents a critical security vulnerability that undermines the integrity of WordPress installations where it is deployed. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's wads_removeProductFromShop() function, which fails to implement proper capability checks before executing destructive operations. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 2.2.4, making it a widespread concern across numerous WordPress environments that rely on this dropshipping solution for e-commerce operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the absence of authentication and authorization verification within the plugin's core functionality. When an attacker invokes the wads_removeProductFromShop() function through a specially crafted request, the system processes the deletion without verifying whether the requester possesses the necessary permissions to perform such actions. This missing capability check represents a classic security oversight that aligns with CWE-863, which addresses "Incorrect Authorization" vulnerabilities where the system fails to properly verify access rights before executing privileged operations. The vulnerability essentially allows any unauthenticated user to exploit the plugin's deletion mechanism, creating a pathway for arbitrary post removal that can result in significant data loss.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data deletion, as it can compromise the entire e-commerce ecosystem managed through the affected WordPress site. Attackers can leverage this weakness to remove product listings, which directly impacts inventory management and customer experience. The unauthorized removal of posts can also disrupt affiliate marketing campaigns, delete important content, and potentially cause revenue loss for businesses relying on the plugin's functionality. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a straightforward method to cause disruption without requiring any prior access credentials or advanced technical knowledge. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WordPress plugins are often deployed with minimal security considerations, and the vulnerability can be exploited through simple web requests that do not require authentication.
Organizations using this plugin must immediately implement mitigations to protect their systems from exploitation. The primary recommendation involves updating to the latest plugin version where the capability check has been implemented. However, in cases where immediate updates are not feasible, administrators should consider implementing additional security measures such as restricting access to plugin endpoints through web application firewalls or implementing custom capability checks at the WordPress level. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control mechanisms within WordPress plugins, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques. Security teams should monitor their systems for unauthorized deletion activities and implement comprehensive logging to detect potential exploitation attempts. The incident underscores the critical need for regular security audits of third-party plugins and the implementation of security best practices that align with industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.