WooCommerce Payments WordPress Plugin: Improper Authentication
CVE-2023-28121 is a critical-severity improper authentication vulnerability in WooCommerce Payments WordPress Plugin, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected WooCommerce Payments WordPress Plugin versions: Fixed version 5.6.2. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 87.4% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 0.24% of all scored CVEs.
Exploitation in the next 30 days is more likely than not, according to EPSS.
What to do
- Update Woocommerce Payments to 4.8.2 or 5.0.4 or 5.1.3 or 5.2.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Woopayments to 5.6.2 or a later version.
- Read the advisory on developer.woocommerce.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| WooCommerce Payments WordPress Plugin | WooCommerce Payments WordPress Plugin | Fixed version 5.6.2 | Not stated |
| Automattic | Woocommerce Payments | 4.8.0 up to, but not including, 4.8.2; 5.0.0 up to, but not including, 5.0.4; 5.1.0 up to, but not including, 5.1.3; 5.2.0 up to, but not including, 5.2.2; 5.5.0 up to, but not including, 5.5.2 | 4.8.2, 5.0.4, 5.1.3, 5.2.2, 5.5.2 |
| Automattic | Woopayments | 5.6.0 up to, but not including, 5.6.2; 4.9.0; 5.3.0; 5.4.0 | 5.6.2 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.
Official description
An issue in WooCommerce Payments plugin for WordPress (versions 5.6.1 and lower) allows an unauthenticated attacker to send requests on behalf of an elevated user, like administrator. This allows a remote, unauthenticated attacker to gain admin access on a site that has the affected version of the plugin activated.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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