CVE-2024-38669 in WooCommerce Predictive Search Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/20/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in a3rev Software WooCommerce Predictive Search allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects WooCommerce Predictive Search: from n/a through 6.0.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-38669 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the a3rev Software WooCommerce Predictive Search plugin, specifically targeting versions ranging from the initial release through 6.0.1. This flaw falls under the category of improper input neutralization during web page generation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting attack, where malicious payloads are reflected back to users through web application responses, typically via URL parameters or other input vectors. The issue stems from inadequate sanitization and validation of user-supplied input data before it is rendered in web page content, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input that gets processed by the WooCommerce Predictive Search plugin and subsequently reflected back to the user's browser without proper HTML encoding or output escaping. This reflected nature means that the malicious script code is executed in the victim's browser when they click on a specially crafted link or visit a maliciously constructed URL. The vulnerability affects the plugin's handling of search queries and other user inputs that are displayed back to users in the search interface, making it particularly dangerous in e-commerce environments where users frequently interact with search functionality. The flaw enables attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect victims to malicious sites, or execute other harmful operations within the context of the vulnerable web application.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WooCommerce stores utilizing the affected plugin, potentially compromising user sessions and enabling unauthorized access to sensitive data. The reflected XSS nature means that attacks can be delivered through social engineering techniques, such as phishing emails or malicious links shared in forums and social media platforms. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to hijack user sessions, steal sensitive information including customer data and payment details, or manipulate the search functionality to display malicious content. The vulnerability's presence in versions up to 6.0.1 indicates that a substantial number of users may be affected, particularly those running older versions of the plugin. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, as attackers could use this vulnerability to modify search results, inject advertisements, or even redirect customers to fraudulent websites, thereby damaging both user trust and business reputation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-38669 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the reflected XSS vulnerability, as recommended by the vendor and security advisories. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout their web applications, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. This includes implementing proper HTML escaping for all dynamic content and utilizing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution capabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering attacks and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their web applications to identify similar input handling weaknesses and implement robust web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads attempting to exploit this and related vulnerabilities. Regular security monitoring and prompt patch management processes are essential to prevent exploitation of this and other similar cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in e-commerce platforms.