CVE-2023-47839 - How Hackers Exploit XSS in WordPress Product Catalog (impleCode Plugin <= 3.3.26)

WordPress powers millions of websites, and plugins help expand its features easily. But what happens when a popular plugin gets hit with a serious security bug? That’s exactly what happened with the impleCode eCommerce Product Catalog plugin in versions up to 3.3.26. This post breaks down the vulnerability CVE-2023-47839, shows how it works, how attackers can use it, and how you can protect your site.

What Is CVE-2023-47839?

CVE-2023-47839 is a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the impleCode eCommerce Product Catalog plugin for WordPress. *Cross-site scripting* lets an attacker inject malicious scripts into web pages, often targeting visitors or site administrators.

The bug was reported for all versions up to 3.3.26. It happens because the plugin doesn’t properly handle (neutralize) user-supplied input on web pages, letting scripts sneak through.

Vulnerability type: XSS (Cross-Site Scripting)

- CVE: CVE-2023-47839

How Does the Vulnerability Work?

Let’s say you have a product listing using the plugin. The plugin lets anyone enter certain data—for example, via product reviews or custom fields. If that input is not properly *sanitized* or *escaped* before rendering, an attacker can insert JavaScript code (an XSS attack).

The most basic XSS test is the classic script alert

<script>alert('XSS by CVE-2023-47839')</script>

If you can enter this into a field—like product name, description, or review—and see the alert when viewing the product page, your site is vulnerable.

Exploit Example: Proof of Concept

Suppose the plugin lets you add products with a *custom field* called “Color.” If the field isn’t sanitized or escaped, you could enter:

<img src="x" onerror="alert('XSS Exploit!')">

Result:
When someone visits the product page with this field visible, they get a JavaScript alert box—proof of XSS.

Or, in real attacks, instead of alert(), hackers would steal cookies, login tokens, or install JavaScript malware.

Sample Python Request to Inject XSS

import requests

url = 'https://victim-site.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php';
payload = '<script>alert(document.cookie)</script>'
data = {
    'action': 'add_product',
    'product_name': 'Test Product',
    'color': payload
}
requests.post(url, data=data)

*Note: Actual field names and endpoints may vary based on plugin setup. Always test responsibly.*

Where Was It Fixed?

The vulnerability was publicly reported and patched in version 3.3.27 of the plugin.

- Plugin changelog
- NVD advisory for CVE-2023-47839
- WPScan Advisory

The fix involves sanitizing and escaping all user input using safe functions like esc_html(), esc_attr(), and wp_kses() before showing it in HTML.

Before (bad)

echo $_POST['color']; // Unsafe, renders unsanitized HTML/JS!

After (good)

echo esc_html( $_POST['color'] ); // Only outputs safe text

Use a Web Firewall (like Wordfence or Sucuri) for extra filtering.

4. Limit who can submit/modify product fields.
5. Watch for unusual new products or reviews with suspicious HTML/JS.

Conclusion

CVE-2023-47839 is a critical XSS issue that put many WordPress store sites at risk. The good news: it’s patched—just update the impleCode eCommerce Product Catalog plugin to the latest version and you’ll be safe.

As always, keep your plugins updated, review user-submitted content, and use security best practices to protect your WordPress website.

Timeline

Published on: 11/23/2023 00:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 11/28/2023 21:07:29 UTC