A recent vulnerability discovered in the popular WordPress e-commerce plugin, Easy PayPal & Stripe Buy Now Button, places users at risk for Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks. This plugin, developed by Scott Paterson, is widely used on e-commerce websites to simplify and streamline the process of selling products and receiving payments. The affected version range is from N/A through version 1.8.1.

What is CVE-2023-51683?

CVE-2023-51683 refers to a potential security vulnerability that allows an attacker to execute unauthorized commands by exploiting Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerabilities in the affected plugin.

This vulnerability takes advantage of a lack of security mechanisms such as tokens on critical actions, allowing attackers to force a user to carry out an action without their knowledge or consent. This puts the user at risk because unauthorized code can be executed, making them susceptible to data theft or the modification of sensitive information.

The Plugin Details

Name: Easy PayPal & Stripe Buy Now Button
Developer: Scott Paterson
Affected Versions: N/A through 1.8.1

1. Official CVE Record
2. NVD (National Vulnerability Database) link
3. The Exploit Database
4. Official WordPress Plugin Information

Details on the Exploit

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious URL containing specific parameters and sending it to the victim. Ideally, the URL would be presented in such a way that would encourage the victim to take action, such as clicking on a phishing link or similar scam.

Upon clicking the malicious link, the unsuspecting victim inadvertently exposes their system to unauthorized access, allowing hackers to execute arbitrary code or modify settings.

An example of a code snippet used to exploit this vulnerability is as follows

<html>
  <body>
    <form action="https://victim-website.com/wp-admin/admin-post.php?action=easy_paypal_button_update"; method="POST">
      <input type="hidden" name="new_setting_value" value="{MALICIOUS_CODE}" />
      <input type="submit" value="Click Here!" />
    </form>
  </body>
</html>

In this example, the {MALICIOUS_CODE} would be replaced by the actual malicious code the attacker wants to execute. The submission of this form would then result in the malicious code being executed without the knowledge of the victim.

Users are advised to take the following steps to safeguard their websites

1. Update the Easy PayPal & Stripe Buy Now Button plugin to the latest available version (version 1.8.1 or later).
2. Implement additional security mechanisms such as CSRF tokens or check for user intent (e.g., re-authentication or a clickjacking protection) on critical website actions.
3. Regularly backup your WordPress website and database to ensure a recovery plan in case of any unauthorized modifications or data loss.
4. Educate users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links and engaging in harmful online activities, such as downloading unverified software.

In conclusion, the CVE-2023-51683 vulnerability poses a significant risk to Easy PayPal & Stripe Buy Now Button users. By following these mitigation steps, keeping software updated, and remaining vigilant against threats, users can reduce the likelihood of falling prey to CSRF attacks.

Timeline

Published on: 02/28/2024 17:15:07 UTC
Last modified on: 02/29/2024 13:49:47 UTC