CVE-2018-20966 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

The woocommerce-jetpack plugin for WordPress, prior to version 3.8.0, is vulnerable to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack in the Products Per Page feature.

Understanding CVE-2018-20966

This CVE identifies a specific security vulnerability in the woocommerce-jetpack plugin for WordPress.

What is CVE-2018-20966?

The Products Per Page feature of the woocommerce-jetpack plugin for WordPress, before version 3.8.0, contains a cross-site scripting vulnerability (XSS). This vulnerability could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts on the victim's browser.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20966

Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information, account takeover, and potential manipulation of website content.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20966

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The woocommerce-jetpack plugin before version 3.8.0 for WordPress has XSS in the Products Per Page feature.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Plugin: woocommerce-jetpack
Vulnerable Version: < 3.8.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by injecting malicious scripts into the Products Per Page feature, which may then be executed in the context of the victim's browser.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems and data from this vulnerability by following these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the woocommerce-jetpack plugin to version 3.8.0 or higher.
Regularly monitor for any suspicious activities on your WordPress site.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks.
Educate users about the risks of clicking on unknown links or downloading files from untrusted sources.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for all plugins and themes used in your WordPress installation.
Apply patches and updates promptly to ensure your website is protected against known vulnerabilities.