CVE-2024-51693 in Search Order by Product SKU for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in laboratorio d’Avanguardia Search order by product SKU for WooCommerce allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Search order by product SKU for WooCommerce: from n/a through 0.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
This vulnerability represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting flaw that exploits improper input sanitization during web page generation within the laboratorio d'Avanguardia Search order by product SKU for WooCommerce plugin. The issue occurs when user-supplied input containing malicious scripts is reflected back to the user's browser without proper neutralization, creating an avenue for attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability specifically affects versions ranging from the initial release through version 0.2 of this WooCommerce plugin, indicating a persistent flaw that was not addressed in the affected release cycle. The reflected nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious input must be crafted to be included in a URL parameter or form field, which is then reflected back to the user's browser, allowing the attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code that executes in the victim's browser context.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves attackers crafting malicious URLs containing script payloads that are processed by the plugin's search functionality. When the plugin generates web pages to display search results, it fails to properly sanitize or escape user input before rendering it back to the browser. This creates a direct path for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the legitimate search functionality of the plugin, making it more difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious requests. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers social engineering through spearphishing attachments or links.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the targeted environment. An attacker could potentially steal administrator credentials, modify order data, or inject malicious code into the plugin's interface to persistently compromise the site. The reflected nature means that the attack requires user interaction with a malicious link, but once executed, the consequences can be severe for both the website owner and end users. The vulnerability's presence in a WooCommerce plugin specifically targets e-commerce environments where sensitive financial data and user information are processed, making the potential impact significantly higher than in standard web applications. Organizations using this plugin are at risk of data breaches, financial loss, and reputational damage if attackers successfully exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to their systems or customer data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to address the reflected XSS flaw through proper input sanitization and output encoding. The primary recommendation involves updating to a patched version of the Search order by product SKU for WooCommerce plugin where the vulnerability has been resolved through proper input validation and sanitization. Administrators should implement Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and reduce the impact of successful XSS attempts. Additionally, input validation should be strengthened to ensure that all user-supplied data is properly escaped before being rendered in web pages, with special attention to URL parameters and form inputs that are processed by the plugin. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or components of the WordPress ecosystem. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to provide additional protection against known XSS attack patterns while maintaining the security posture of their e-commerce platforms.