Overview
The CVE-2025-3529 vulnerability is an alarming cybersecurity risk that involves the WordPress Simple Shopping Cart plugin. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including version 5.1.2. The risk associated with this vulnerability is of significant concern, as it enables unauthenticated attackers to access and download digital products without paying for them, potentially exposing sensitive information. This vulnerability underscores the importance of taking proactive steps to secure WordPress plugins, particularly those that handle financial transactions and digital product deliveries, from potential cyber threats.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-3529
Severity: High (8.2 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
WordPress Simple Shopping Cart Plugin |
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability germinates from an insecure direct object reference (IDOR) within the ‘file_url’ parameter in the WordPress Simple Shopping Cart plugin. An attacker can manipulate this parameter to access files directly, bypassing the need for authentication or payment. This allows a malicious actor to download digital products for free and might expose sensitive system information.
Conceptual Example Code
Here is a simplified, conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability:
GET /download.php?file_url=/path/to/digital/product HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-website.comIn this example, the attacker is directly referencing the file’s path they wish to download. Without proper security checks in place, the server could serve this file, enabling the attacker to download a digital product without paying for it.
Mitigation and Recommendations
The most effective mitigation for this vulnerability is to apply the vendor-provided patch. If for some reason, the patch cannot be applied immediately, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) could help detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability.
Website administrators using the WordPress Simple Shopping Cart plugin should update to the latest version as soon as possible to mitigate the risk. Additionally, it is advisable to conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to ensure the integrity and security of your systems.