CVE-2024-13831
📋 TL;DR
The Tabs for WooCommerce WordPress plugin is vulnerable to PHP object injection through deserialization of untrusted input. This allows authenticated attackers with Shop Manager or higher privileges to inject malicious PHP objects. Impact requires a separate plugin or theme with a POP chain to enable actions like file deletion, data theft, or code execution.
💻 Affected Systems
- Tabs for WooCommerce WordPress plugin
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
If combined with a POP chain from another plugin/theme, attackers could achieve remote code execution, delete critical files, or steal sensitive data, potentially compromising the entire WordPress site.
Likely Case
Limited impact due to requirement for both authenticated access and a compatible POP chain; most sites will experience no direct exploitation unless specifically targeted.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and no vulnerable POP chains present, the vulnerability has minimal to no impact on site security.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access (Shop Manager+) and depends on availability of POP chains in other installed components.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 1.0.0
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wc-tabs/trunk/wc-tabs-lite.php#L363
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Tabs for WooCommerce'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or manually update to latest version. 5. Verify plugin is updated to version after 1.0.0.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Remove vulnerable plugin
WordPressTemporarily disable or remove the Tabs for WooCommerce plugin until patched version is available.
wp plugin deactivate wc-tabs
wp plugin delete wc-tabs
Restrict user privileges
allLimit Shop Manager and higher privileged accounts to trusted users only.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove the Tabs for WooCommerce plugin entirely from the WordPress installation.
- Audit and remove any plugins/themes containing POP chains that could enable exploitation.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin → Plugins → Installed Plugins for 'Tabs for WooCommerce' version 1.0.0 or earlier.Check Version:
wp plugin get wc-tabs --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm plugin version is greater than 1.0.0 in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual PHP deserialization errors in WordPress debug logs
- Suspicious activity from Shop Manager or Admin accounts
Network Indicators:
- POST requests to WooCommerce product endpoints with serialized data
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND "product_has_custom_tabs" AND ("unserialize" OR "PHP Object")