Vulnerabilities in Simple Ecommerce Shopping Cart Plugin (Pay-Pal) for WordPress

 Vulnerabilities in Simple Ecommerce Shopping Cart Plugin (Pay-Pal) for WordPress

Overview of CVE-2024-12253 and CVE-2024-12128

Recent vulnerabilities have been identified in the Simple Ecommerce Shopping Cart Plugin - Sell Products through PayPal for WordPress, specifically affecting versions up to and including 3.1.2. These vulnerabilities can lead to unauthorized access and reflected cross-site scripting (XSS), posing significant risks to users and their data.

CVE-2024-12253: Unauthorized Access Vulnerability

Description: CVE-2024-12253 is a vulnerability that arises from a missing capability check on the save_settings, export_csv, and simpleecommcart-action actions within the plugin. This oversight allows authenticated attackers, including those with subscriber-level access, to modify plugin settings and access sensitive order and log data without proper authorization.Impact:

• Unauthorized Access: Attackers can change settings or retrieve sensitive data.
• Data Exposure: Order and log data can be accessed by unauthenticated users, increasing the risk of data breaches.

Published: December 7, 2024
Severity Rating: Medium (CVSS Score: 5.4)

CVE-2024-12128: Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Description: The second vulnerability, CVE-2024-12128, is due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the monthly_sales_current_year parameter. This flaw enables unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts into pages, which can execute if a user is tricked into clicking a malicious link.Impact:

• XSS Attacks: Attackers can execute scripts in the context of a user's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking or other malicious activities.

Published: December 7, 2024
Severity Rating: Medium (CVSS Score: 6.1)

Examples of Exploitation

Unauthorized Access Scenario

An attacker with subscriber-level access could exploit CVE-2024-12253 by:

1. Logging into a WordPress site where the vulnerable plugin is installed.
2. Sending requests to change settings via the affected actions without proper checks.
3. Retrieving sensitive customer order information or modifying plugin configurations, which could lead to further exploitation.

Reflected XSS Scenario

For CVE-2024-12128, an attacker might:

1. Create a malicious link that includes a crafted URL with the monthly_sales_current_year parameter.
2. Share this link with potential victims through phishing emails or social media.
3. When an unsuspecting user clicks the link, the script executes in their browser, potentially stealing cookies or redirecting them to malicious sites.

Mitigation Strategies

To protect against these vulnerabilities, users should consider the following actions:

1. Update Plugins Regularly: Ensure that the Simple Ecommerce Shopping Cart Plugin is updated to the latest version that addresses these vulnerabilities.
2. Implement Security Best Practices:
   • Use strong passwords and limit user roles based on necessity.
   • Regularly review user access levels and capabilities within WordPress.
3. Conduct Security Audits: Regularly scan your WordPress installation using tools like WPScan or other vulnerability scanners to identify potential security issues promptly.

Conclusion

The vulnerabilities identified in the Simple Ecommerce Shopping Cart Plugin highlight critical security concerns for WordPress users. By understanding these risks and implementing necessary updates and security measures, site administrators can better protect their websites from unauthorized access and potential exploits stemming from XSS attacks. Regular vigilance and proactive management of plugins are essential in maintaining a secure WordPress environment.