CVE-2024-9214 in Extra Product Options Builder for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/24/2024
The Extra Product Options Builder for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'RednaoSerializedFields' parameter during the creation of a signature file in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.133 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9214 affects the Extra Product Options Builder for WooCommerce plugin, a widely used WordPress extension that enables merchants to create customizable product options. This plugin facilitates the addition of various product features including signature fields, making it a common component in e-commerce websites. The vulnerability exists in versions up to and including 1.2.133, representing a critical security risk for WordPress installations that utilize this plugin. The flaw specifically manifests during the creation of signature files when the 'RednaoSerializedFields' parameter is processed, indicating that the issue occurs within the plugin's handling of serialized data structures used for signature capture functionality.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When an attacker submits malicious input through the 'RednaoSerializedFields' parameter, the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize this data before storing it in the database. This stored data is then later retrieved and displayed without proper HTML escaping, creating a persistent cross-site scripting vulnerability. The vulnerability is classified as stored XSS because the malicious script is saved on the server and executed whenever any user accesses the affected page, regardless of whether they are authenticated or not. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and more precisely aligns with CWE-798 which deals with exposure of hardcoded credentials, though the primary classification remains XSS due to the nature of the attack vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of any user's browser who accesses pages containing the malicious content. This means that any visitor to a compromised website could potentially be affected, including administrators, customers, and other users with varying privilege levels. The attack could be used to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, redirect users to malicious websites, or even install malware on victim machines. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial attack, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods. This vulnerability directly maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1531 for Account Access Removal and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as attackers could leverage this to execute malicious commands and scripts within the victim environment.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that address the XSS flaw. WordPress administrators should prioritize updating to the latest available version of the Extra Product Options Builder plugin as soon as it becomes available. In cases where immediate updates are not possible, administrators should implement additional security measures such as input validation at the web application firewall level, monitoring for suspicious parameter values, and implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output escaping practices, which should be enforced throughout the WordPress ecosystem. Regular security audits of installed plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, and administrators should maintain awareness of security advisories from WordPress.org and other security vendors to stay informed about emerging threats. Organizations should also consider implementing automated monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on potential XSS attack attempts within their web applications.