CVE-2024-8922 is a critical deserialization vulnerability classified under CWE-502 affecting the Product Enquiry for WooCommerce plugin, widely used in WordPress e-commerce sites. The flaw exists in the enquiry_detail.php script, where untrusted input is deserialized without proper validation or sanitization, enabling PHP Object Injection attacks. Authenticated attackers with Author-level access or higher can craft malicious serialized objects that, when deserialized, may execute arbitrary code or manipulate application logic. The plugin itself lacks a known POP (Property Oriented Programming) gadget chain, which limits direct exploitation; however, if other plugins or themes installed on the same WordPress instance contain exploitable POP chains, attackers can leverage these to perform destructive actions such as arbitrary file deletion, sensitive data exfiltration, or full remote code execution. The vulnerability does not require user interaction but does require authenticated access, which is typically granted to trusted users or contributors in WordPress environments. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.2.33.32, and no official patches have been linked yet. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 indicates a high severity due to network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-plugin WordPress environments where chained exploits can be constructed. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, but the risk remains significant due to the plugin's popularity and the common presence of other plugins that may facilitate exploitation.

The impact of CVE-2024-8922 is substantial for organizations running WooCommerce-based e-commerce sites using the vulnerable Product Enquiry plugin. Successful exploitation can lead to complete compromise of the affected WordPress site, including unauthorized deletion of files, theft of sensitive customer and business data, and remote code execution allowing attackers to install backdoors or pivot within the network. This can result in financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties, especially for businesses handling payment card data or personal information. The requirement for Author-level access somewhat limits the attack surface to users with elevated privileges, but insider threats or compromised accounts can still exploit this vulnerability. The widespread use of WooCommerce globally means that many small to medium-sized businesses, which often lack robust security controls, are at risk. Additionally, the ability to chain this vulnerability with others in the WordPress ecosystem increases the potential for severe, multi-stage attacks. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not diminish the urgency for remediation given the high severity and ease of exploitation once prerequisites are met.

1. Immediately restrict Author-level and higher privileges to trusted users only, and audit existing accounts for suspicious activity. 2. Disable or remove the Product Enquiry for WooCommerce plugin if it is not essential to business operations until a patch is available. 3. Monitor WordPress plugin updates closely and apply patches promptly once released by the vendor. 4. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block suspicious serialized payloads targeting enquiry_detail.php or similar endpoints. 5. Conduct a thorough security review of all installed plugins and themes to identify and mitigate potential POP chains that could be leveraged in conjunction with this vulnerability. 6. Employ principle of least privilege for WordPress user roles to minimize the number of users with Author-level or higher access. 7. Enable logging and alerting for unusual file system changes or PHP execution patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 8. Consider deploying runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behaviors at runtime. 9. Educate site administrators and developers about the risks of unsafe deserialization and secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities. 10. Regularly back up website data and configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise.