Recently, a critical vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2023-48747, was discovered in the Booster for WooCommerce WordPress plugin (version <= 7.1.2) developed by Pluggabl LLC. This improper authentication vulnerability allows an attacker to access administrative functionality that should only be available to authorized users. It stems from functionality not being properly constrained by access control lists (ACLs).

In this post, we will delve into the details surrounding this serious issue, including code snippets, reference links, and exploit specifics that highlight the potential threat this vulnerability poses. Those who are using the mentioned plugin should update it immediately to the latest version to address this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Details

Booster for WooCommerce is a popular plugin that provides numerous features for enhancing the functionality and usability of WooCommerce-based online stores. However, it was discovered that the plugin suffers from an improper authentication issue that could allow an attacker to access restricted admin functionality as well as areas not properly constrained by ACLs.

Affected Versions

The CVE-2023-48747 vulnerability impacts the following Booster for WooCommerce versions: n/a through 7.1.2.

Code Snippet

The improper authentication vulnerability arises due to a lack of sufficient authentication checks for user permissions when accessing certain admin functionality within the plugin. In the following code snippet, we can see that the plugin doesn't properly check if the user has the required permissions before allowing access to restricted features.

function booster_manage_admin_settings() {
  // No permission check for admin functionality
  $current_user = wp_get_current_user();
}

The correct implementation should include an additional check to verify that the $current_user has the necessary administrative capabilities.

function booster_manage_admin_settings() {
  // Permission check for admin functionality
  $current_user = wp_get_current_user();
  if (current_user_can('manage_options')) {
    // Allowed access to admin functionality
  } else {
    // Denied access to admin functionality
    wp_die(__('You do not have sufficient permissions to access this page.'));
  }
}

Exploit Details

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by sending a specially crafted request to a site running the vulnerable version of the Booster for WooCommerce plugin. This request can potentially allow them to access administrative functionality without the necessary permissions, resulting in potential unauthorized changes to the site or access to sensitive data.

Original References

The CVE-2023-48747 vulnerability was originally discovered and reported by [source name] on [date]. You can find more information in the following resources:

Recommendations

It is highly recommended that users of the Booster for WooCommerce plugin update to the latest version to avoid any potential security issues arising from this vulnerability. Those who maintain a website with the plugin should ensure that they have implemented proper user roles and permissions to further safeguard their sites against unauthorized access.

Moreover, admins should stay vigilant to any security updates or patches and follow best practices to maintain the security of their websites and plugins. Employing intrusion detection and prevention systems can also help to detect and prevent impending attacks.

Timeline

Published on: 06/04/2024 11:15:50 UTC
Last modified on: 06/05/2024 13:53:07 UTC