CVE-2024-25596 in Doofinder for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/15/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Doofinder Doofinder for WooCommerce allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Doofinder for WooCommerce: from n/a through 2.1.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2026
Cross-site scripting vulnerabilities represent one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws, with the potential to compromise user sessions and execute malicious code within the context of affected websites. This particular vulnerability resides within the Doofinder for WooCommerce plugin, a popular search enhancement tool for wordpress e-commerce platforms that allows merchants to integrate advanced search capabilities into their online stores. The vulnerability manifests as improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically enabling stored cross-site scripting attacks that can persist across user sessions and affect multiple visitors.
The technical flaw occurs when user-supplied input containing malicious javascript code is not properly sanitized or encoded before being rendered in web pages generated by the plugin. This allows attackers to inject persistent malicious scripts that execute whenever legitimate users view affected pages. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Doofinder for WooCommerce plugin from the initial release through version 2.1.8, indicating a long-standing issue that has not been adequately addressed. When exploited, the stored XSS vulnerability enables attackers to steal session cookies, deface web pages, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The attack vector typically involves an attacker submitting malicious input through forms or parameters that are then stored in the plugin's database or configuration, making the malicious code persistently available to all users who access the affected pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can severely compromise the integrity and availability of e-commerce platforms. Attackers can leverage the stored XSS to hijack user sessions, potentially gaining access to customer accounts, personal information, and financial data. The vulnerability particularly threatens online retailers since it can be exploited to steal payment information, modify product listings, or redirect customers to fraudulent websites. The persistence of stored XSS attacks means that once the malicious code is injected, it continues to affect users until the vulnerability is patched and the malicious content is removed from the system. This makes the vulnerability especially dangerous for high-traffic e-commerce sites where the impact of a successful attack can be extensive and long-lasting.
Organizations should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability. The most critical step involves updating to the latest version of the Doofinder for WooCommerce plugin where the XSS vulnerability has been patched. System administrators should also implement input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious code from being executed in web pages. Additionally, implementing content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in user input or unexpected behavior in search functionality. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities through malicious input injection. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes, as the interconnected nature of wordpress ecosystems means that vulnerabilities in one component can affect the entire platform.