CVE-2024-37217 in Empty Cart Button for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/22/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in ProWCPlugins Empty Cart Button for WooCommerce allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Empty Cart Button for WooCommerce: from n/a through 1.3.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the ProWCPlugins Empty Cart Button for WooCommerce plugin, specifically targeting versions through 1.3.8. The issue stems from improper input validation and sanitization during web page generation processes, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the plugin's functionality. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that can persist across user sessions.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied data that gets rendered in web pages without proper encoding or escaping mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious input through the plugin's interface or configuration parameters that are then stored within the system and subsequently executed whenever affected pages are loaded. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users who encounter the compromised content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and potentially full system compromise. When an authenticated administrator or user interacts with the compromised plugin functionality, the malicious scripts can execute within the context of their browser, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive administrative functions. This vulnerability directly maps to attack techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1531 and T1059, which cover credential access and execution through malicious scripts.
The affected plugin's functionality as an empty cart button component makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation since it likely processes user input through form fields, settings configurations, or custom content areas. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged by attackers to establish long-term access to compromised WooCommerce installations, potentially affecting customer data, transaction integrity, and overall site security. Organizations using this plugin version should immediately consider the implications of attackers being able to maintain persistent access through this vector, particularly in environments where the plugin is used for customer-facing cart functionality. Mitigation strategies should include immediate version updates to patched releases, implementation of web application firewalls, and comprehensive security auditing of plugin configurations to prevent further exploitation opportunities.