Exposing the Risks: Flaws in Fancy Product Designer Plugins for WordPress

Introduction

Two critical vulnerabilities have been identified in the Fancy Product Designer plugin for WordPress, posing significant security risks to websites utilizing this tool. These flaws, an unauthenticated arbitrary file upload vulnerability (CVE-2024-51919) and an unauthenticated SQL injection vulnerability (CVE-2024-51818), remain unpatched as of version 6.4.3. This article examines the vulnerabilities, their implications, and the steps developers and site administrators can take to mitigate such risks.

Introduction to Fancy Product Designer

The Fancy Product Designer plugin, developed by Radykal, is widely used in WooCommerce stores to offer advanced product customization. With over 20,000 sales, it enables users to design products interactively, making it a popular choice among e-commerce businesses. However, its recent security flaws have raised concerns about the safety of WordPress sites relying on this tool.

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Details of the Vulnerabilities

1. Unauthenticated Arbitrary File Upload (CVE-2024-51919)

This vulnerability allows attackers to upload arbitrary files, including malicious PHP scripts, without authentication.

• Functions Affected: save_remote_file and fpd_admin_copy_file.
• Impact: Attackers can execute remote code, compromising the entire site.

2. Unauthenticated SQL Injection (CVE-2024-51818)

This flaw permits unauthorized users to execute SQL queries directly on the WordPress database.

• Function Affected: get_products_sql_attrs.
• Impact: Attackers can exfiltrate sensitive information, modify databases, or crash the site.

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Technical Breakdown of Exploits

1. Arbitrary File Upload Flaw

The affected functions fail to adequately verify user inputs, allowing unrestricted file uploads:

• Root Cause: Lack of input validation for filenames and extensions.
• Consequence: Enables remote code execution (RCE).

2. SQL Injection Flaw

The get_products_sql_attrs function improperly sanitizes inputs using strip_tags, which is ineffective against SQL injection attacks:

• Root Cause: Reliance on insufficient sanitization mechanisms.
• Consequence: Direct manipulation of WordPress databases.

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Timeline of Discovery and Disclosure

• March 18, 2024: Patchstack researchers reported the vulnerabilities to the plugin vendor.
• January 8, 2025: With no vendor response, the vulnerabilities were publicly disclosed.

The lack of a timely response highlights the importance of vendor accountability in maintaining WordPress ecosystem security.

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Implications for WordPress Websites

1. Potential Damages

• Data Breaches: Exposure of sensitive customer data.
• Website Defacement: Unauthorized changes to site appearance.
• Financial Losses: Downtime and reputational harm to e-commerce businesses.

2. Impact on E-Commerce

With WooCommerce being a primary use case, compromised sites risk losing customer trust and facing regulatory scrutiny for data protection failures.

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Security Recommendations for Administrators

1. Deactivate and Remove the Plugin
   Until a security patch is released, administrators should deactivate and remove Fancy Product Designer to prevent exploitation.
2. Regularly Monitor Logs
   Check access logs for unusual activity, particularly around affected functions or endpoints.
3. Apply Security Plugins
   Use tools like Wordfence or Sucuri Security to detect and block potential exploits.

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Development Best Practices

1. File Upload Validation

• Validate both file names and extensions.
• Implement strict whitelisting for allowed file types.

2. Prepared Statements for SQL Queries

• Use prepared statements to prevent SQL injection attacks.
• Avoid relying solely on sanitization functions like strip_tags.

3. Input Sanitization and Escaping

• Sanitize and escape all user inputs to prevent malicious injections.

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Tools for Plugin Security

Recommended Plugins

• iThemes Security: Provides two-factor authentication and file change detection.
• All In One WP Security & Firewall: Monitors and protects against common vulnerabilities.

Monitoring Solutions

• Use tools like New Relic or Dynatrace for performance and security monitoring.

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FAQs on Fancy Product Designer Vulnerabilities

1. What makes these vulnerabilities critical?

Both flaws allow unauthenticated attackers to compromise websites without user credentials.

2. How can I check if my site has been affected?

Review server logs for suspicious activity related to the plugin’s functions.

3. Can I still use the plugin if I take precautions?

It’s best to deactivate the plugin until an official patch is released.

4. Are there alternatives to Fancy Product Designer?

Consider other WooCommerce-compatible plugins with active support and security updates.

5. How can I ensure plugin security in the future?

Conduct regular plugin audits and stay updated with vulnerability disclosures from sources like Patchstack.

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Conclusion

The vulnerabilities in the Fancy Product Designer plugin highlight the critical importance of maintaining robust security practices in WordPress ecosystems. Administrators and developers must act swiftly to mitigate risks, ensuring their websites remain safe from exploitation. By prioritizing regular audits, adopting best practices, and leveraging security tools, organizations can protect their digital assets and maintain customer trust.

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