CVE-2026-111031 in Welcart e-Commerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2026
The Welcart e-Commerce WordPress plugin before 2.12.6 does not validate a user-supplied URL before using it in a redirect, allowing unauthenticated attackers to redirect users to arbitrary external websites.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/28/2026
The vulnerability identified in the Welcart e-Commerce plugin for WordPress prior to version 2.12.6 represents a classic Open Redirect flaw that stems from insufficient input validation on user-supplied URL parameters. In web application architecture, redirects are frequently utilized to guide users through checkout flows or after form submissions. However, when these destinations are derived directly from untrusted HTTP request inputs without rigorous sanitization or allow-listing against known safe domains, the application becomes susceptible to manipulation by malicious actors. The core technical failure lies in the absence of a mechanism to verify that the target URL belongs to an expected domain or adheres to strict formatting rules before executing the redirect command via standard PHP functions such as wp_redirect or header location calls.
From a security taxonomy perspective, this flaw is categorized under CWE-601, which defines Open Redirect vulnerabilities where a web application redirects users to URLs provided by attackers without proper validation. This misconfiguration allows an unauthenticated attacker to craft malicious links that appear legitimate because they originate from the trusted domain of the WordPress site hosting Welcart. When a victim clicks such a link, their browser is instructed to navigate away from the e-commerce platform and toward a destination chosen entirely by the adversary. The lack of authentication requirements for this vector means that any internet user can exploit it without needing valid credentials or prior interaction with the application beyond accessing the vulnerable endpoint.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple navigation errors, as Open Redirects are commonly leveraged in sophisticated phishing campaigns and credential harvesting operations. Attackers often embed these malicious redirect links within emails, social media posts, or other communication channels to deceive users into believing they are still interacting with a trusted entity. Once redirected, the user may be presented with a spoofed login page designed to capture sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, or payment details. Furthermore, search engines and security scanners often treat domains that facilitate open redirects negatively in their trust ratings, potentially damaging the reputation of the website owner and reducing customer confidence in the e-commerce platform's security posture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve implementing strict input validation on all redirect parameters before they are processed by the application logic. Developers should employ an allow-list approach where only predefined, trusted domains or specific URL patterns are permitted as redirect targets. If dynamic redirection is required, it is advisable to encode user-supplied values and verify them against a whitelist of approved destinations rather than trusting raw input. Additionally, applying security headers such as Content-Security-Policy with directives that restrict navigation can provide an additional layer of defense by limiting where the browser will follow redirects. Upgrading to version 2.12.6 or later is essential for immediate remediation, as this release addresses the underlying code deficiency responsible for allowing unvalidated URLs in redirect operations.