CVE-2017-18356 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

An exploit can be triggered in the Automattic WooCommerce plugin prior to version 3.2.4 for WordPress, by an individual who has obtained user access with Shop manager privileges on the targeted website. The attacker will then create a carefully designed sequence of characters that will result in a PHP object injection. This injection takes advantage of the cached queries utilized by the includes/shortcodes/class-wc-shortcode-products.php file's WC_Shortcode_Products::get_products() function when it is used within shortcodes.

Understanding CVE-2017-18356

In the Automattic WooCommerce plugin before version 3.2.4 for WordPress, a vulnerability exists that allows an attacker with specific user access to perform a PHP object injection attack.

What is CVE-2017-18356?

This CVE refers to a security vulnerability in the Automattic WooCommerce plugin for WordPress that enables a PHP object injection attack by exploiting cached queries in certain functions.

The Impact of CVE-2017-18356

The vulnerability allows an attacker with Shop manager privileges to execute malicious PHP object injections, potentially leading to unauthorized access and manipulation of the targeted website.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-18356

The following technical details provide insight into the vulnerability and its implications:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the WooCommerce plugin allows an attacker to inject PHP objects by manipulating cached queries in specific functions.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Automattic WooCommerce plugin
Vendor: Automattic
Versions Affected: Prior to version 3.2.4

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers need user access with Shop manager privileges on the targeted website.
By crafting a specific sequence of characters, the attacker triggers a PHP object injection through the WC_Shortcode_Products::get_products() function.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2017-18356, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the WooCommerce plugin to version 3.2.4 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor user privileges and access levels to prevent unauthorized actions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update plugins and software to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement strong authentication mechanisms to control user access and permissions.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates promptly to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities in plugins and software.