Overview
CVE-2024-14015 identifies a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in the WordPress eCommerce Plugin, affecting versions up to and including 2.9.0. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the plugin’s pages, potentially impacting high-privilege users like administrators.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from the plugin’s failure to properly sanitize and escape a specific parameter before rendering it within the page’s HTML. An attacker can craft a malicious URL containing a JavaScript payload within this unsanitized parameter. When a user, particularly an administrator, clicks on this link, the injected script will execute in their browser, operating within the context of the vulnerable WordPress site.
Essentially, the plugin takes user input and directly reflects it back to the user without proper encoding. This allows attackers to inject arbitrary HTML or JavaScript code.
CVSS Analysis
Due to missing data, the CVSS score for CVE-2024-14015 is currently N/A. The severity is also listed as N/A. However, based on the nature of a reflected XSS vulnerability and the potential for administrator compromise, it’s crucial to treat this as a high-risk issue until a proper CVSS score is assigned. A successful XSS attack can lead to a full takeover of the website if an administrator is targeted.
Possible Impact
A successful exploitation of this vulnerability can have severe consequences:
- Administrator Account Takeover: Attackers can steal administrator credentials, gaining full control of the WordPress website.
- Malicious Content Injection: They can inject malicious content, such as phishing links or malware download prompts, affecting all website visitors.
- Data Theft: Sensitive data stored on the website can be compromised.
- Website Defacement: The website can be defaced, damaging its reputation.
Mitigation and Patch Steps
To mitigate this vulnerability, follow these steps:
- Update the Plugin: The primary mitigation step is to update the WordPress eCommerce Plugin to a patched version that addresses CVE-2024-14015. Check the plugin developer’s website or the WordPress plugin repository for updates.
- Disable the Plugin (if no patch available): If an update is not yet available, temporarily disable the plugin to prevent potential exploitation.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Implement a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to filter out malicious requests and potentially block XSS attempts. Configure the WAF to have rules to sanitize inputs.
- User Awareness: Educate users, especially administrators, to be cautious about clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites.
