CVE-2024-31304 in WC Marketplace Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in MultiVendorX WC Marketplace.This issue affects WC Marketplace: from n/a through 4.1.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2024
The CVE-2024-31304 vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw within the MultiVendorX WC Marketplace plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions ranging from an unspecified initial version through 4.1.3. This missing authorization issue fundamentally undermines the security controls that should govern access to sensitive administrative functions within the e-commerce platform. The vulnerability exists in the core marketplace functionality that enables multiple vendors to operate within a single WordPress installation while maintaining separate seller dashboards and administrative interfaces. The flaw allows unauthorized users to bypass normal access controls and potentially gain elevated privileges or access to restricted administrative features.
This authorization bypass vulnerability operates at the application level and falls under the CWE-863 category of Incorrect Authorization, where the system fails to properly verify that an actor is authorized to perform a requested action. The issue specifically affects the WC Marketplace plugin's user permission handling mechanisms, which should enforce strict access controls between different user roles including administrators, vendors, and customers. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions before executing administrative operations, allowing malicious actors or compromised user accounts to perform actions they should not be authorized to execute. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege that is essential for maintaining secure multi-tenant e-commerce environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially enable complete compromise of vendor marketplaces and associated customer data. Attackers could exploit this flaw to manipulate vendor listings, modify product information, access sensitive financial data, or even take control of vendor accounts. The vulnerability affects the core marketplace functionality that handles vendor registration, product management, order processing, and financial transactions within the WordPress environment. Given that this is a WooCommerce marketplace plugin, the impact could be severe as it affects not just individual vendor operations but the entire ecosystem of sellers and buyers within the platform. The vulnerability creates a persistent risk that could allow attackers to maintain access over extended periods, particularly if the compromised system remains undetected for long durations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-31304 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization flaw, as this represents the most direct solution to the identified vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive access control reviews and ensure that all user roles are properly validated before executing administrative functions. Network-level monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual access patterns or privilege escalation attempts within the marketplace environment. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which involves valid accounts used for unauthorized access, and T1566 which covers spearphishing with a focus on gaining initial access through compromised user credentials. Security teams should also consider implementing role-based access control audits and ensure that all administrative interfaces properly validate user permissions before executing sensitive operations. Regular security assessments of marketplace plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar authorization gaps that could potentially affect other components of the e-commerce infrastructure.