CVE-2025-14463 in Payment Button for PayPal Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/17/2026
The Payment Button for PayPal plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized order creation in all versions up to, and including, 1.2.3.41. This is due to the plugin exposing a public AJAX endpoint (`wppaypalcheckout_ajax_process_order`) that processes checkout results without any authentication or server-side verification of the PayPal transaction. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to create arbitrary orders on the site with any chosen transaction ID, payment status, product name, amount, or customer information via direct POST requests to the AJAX endpoint, granted they can bypass basic parameter validation. If email sending is enabled, the plugin will also trigger purchase receipt emails to any email address supplied in the request, leading to order database corruption and unauthorized outgoing emails without any real PayPal transaction taking place.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-14463 affects the Payment Button for PayPal plugin version 1.2.3.41 and earlier, presenting a critical authorization flaw that enables arbitrary order creation within WordPress environments. This vulnerability stems from the plugin's exposure of a public AJAX endpoint named wppaypalcheckout_ajax_process_order which lacks proper authentication mechanisms and server-side transaction verification. The flaw allows attackers to bypass standard security controls through direct POST requests, creating fraudulent orders with complete control over transaction parameters including payment status, product details, amounts, and customer information. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) conditions where insufficient validation of request origins permits unauthorized operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the plugin's trust in client-side data without proper server-side validation, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate the checkout process entirely. When an attacker sends a POST request to the exposed endpoint, the plugin processes the order creation without verifying the legitimacy of the PayPal transaction or authenticating the request source. This creates a scenario where any malicious actor can generate fake orders with arbitrary transaction IDs, payment statuses, and customer details, effectively allowing them to manipulate the site's order database. The vulnerability also incorporates elements of CWE-287, which deals with inadequate authentication mechanisms, as no proper user authentication or session validation occurs before order processing. The exposed endpoint functions as an attack surface that bypasses WordPress's standard security protocols and plugin access controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple order manipulation to include potential email flooding and database corruption. When email notifications are enabled within the plugin configuration, the vulnerability enables attackers to trigger purchase receipt emails to any email address provided in their malicious requests. This creates a vector for spamming or phishing attacks where legitimate customers could receive fraudulent order confirmations, potentially leading to reputation damage and customer confusion. The database corruption aspect occurs when fake orders are created with conflicting or malformed data, which can disrupt normal order processing workflows and potentially cause data integrity issues. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage the exposed endpoint to execute automated order creation processes through scripting. Additionally, the lack of transaction verification creates opportunities for financial fraud where attackers might attempt to manipulate order values or create false revenue records.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate endpoint protection and authentication enforcement. The most effective approach involves implementing proper authentication checks at the plugin level, ensuring that all AJAX endpoints require valid user authentication before processing orders. Organizations should also implement rate limiting and input validation on the exposed endpoint to prevent automated exploitation attempts. The recommended solution includes modifying the plugin code to verify the legitimacy of PayPal transactions through server-side verification before accepting any order creation requests. Additionally, implementing proper access controls through WordPress's capability system would prevent unauthorized users from accessing the endpoint. Security headers and CORS policies should be configured to restrict endpoint access to legitimate sources only, and the plugin should be updated to version 1.2.3.42 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should also monitor their order databases for suspicious activity patterns and implement logging mechanisms to track unauthorized order creation attempts. Network-level protections such as WAF rules can be implemented to block suspicious requests to the exposed endpoint, while regular security audits should verify that no other similar endpoints exist within the WordPress installation that might present similar vulnerabilities.