CVE-2024-22153 in Stock Locations for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/31/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Fahad Mahmood & Alexandre Faustino Stock Locations for WooCommerce allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Stock Locations for WooCommerce: from n/a through 2.5.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The issue specifically impacts the Stock Locations for WooCommerce plugin, which is designed to manage inventory tracking and location management for e-commerce platforms built on the WordPress ecosystem. The vulnerability exists within the web page generation process where input validation and sanitization mechanisms fail to properly neutralize user-supplied data before it is rendered in web interfaces. This allows malicious actors to store malicious scripts that will execute whenever legitimate users view affected pages, creating a persistent threat vector that can compromise user sessions and steal sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input handling within the plugin's stock location management features. When administrators or users input data into the stock location fields, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This flaw aligns with CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting as a common weakness where applications fail to properly neutralize input data. The vulnerability is classified as stored XSS because the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and executed whenever affected pages are loaded, rather than being reflected in a single request. This persistent nature makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods without requiring repeated exploitation attempts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, modify product information, manipulate inventory data, or redirect users to malicious websites. The affected version range from n/a through 2.5.9 indicates that all versions within this release series are susceptible to the attack, suggesting a widespread exposure across numerous installations. This vulnerability directly maps to several tactics in the ATT&CK framework including initial access through web application attacks, privilege escalation via administrative session compromise, and credential access through session hijacking techniques. The impact is particularly severe for e-commerce environments where administrators have elevated privileges and access to sensitive business data.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of the vulnerable plugin to the latest stable release that addresses the XSS vulnerability. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms across all user-facing interfaces, particularly those handling inventory management data. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though these should not replace proper code-level fixes. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious user inputs and unusual administrative activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments of their WordPress plugins and themes to identify similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security testing during development cycles and the necessity of implementing secure coding practices that prevent input sanitization failures.