CVE-2022-2198 in WPQA Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2022
The WPQA Builder WordPress plugin before 5.7 which is a companion plugin to the Hilmer and Discy , does not check authorization before displaying private messages, allowing any logged in user to read other users private message using the message id, which can easily be brute forced.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2022
The WPQA Builder WordPress plugin vulnerability represents a critical authorization bypass flaw that affects versions prior to 5.7. This security weakness stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the plugin's message handling system, specifically in how it processes private message retrieval requests. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's architecture that fails to properly validate user permissions before exposing sensitive private messaging data, creating a pathway for unauthorized information disclosure.
The technical implementation of this flaw allows any authenticated user to access private messages intended for other users by simply knowing or brute-forcing the message identifier. This occurs because the plugin's message display functionality does not verify whether the requesting user has legitimate access rights to view the specific message content. The vulnerability specifically affects the interaction between WPQA Builder and its companion themes Hilmer and Discy, where the message retrieval endpoint lacks proper user context validation. The message ID serves as the primary access vector, making it susceptible to enumeration attacks where malicious users can systematically test different message identifiers to gain access to private communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as private messages may contain sensitive personal data, confidential communications, or business-critical information that should remain restricted to intended recipients. Attackers can leverage this flaw to conduct passive reconnaissance, gather intelligence about user activities, or potentially exploit additional vulnerabilities in the communication patterns. The ease of exploitation through brute force techniques makes this particularly dangerous as it requires minimal technical skill to discover and exploit. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in the principle of defense in depth within the WordPress plugin ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper authorization checks at the message retrieval endpoint, ensuring that each message access request validates both the user's authentication status and their ownership or permission to view the specific message content. The plugin developers should implement message ID validation that cross-references the requested message against the authenticated user's permissions, preventing unauthorized access to private communications. Security measures should also include rate limiting and access logging to detect potential brute force attempts. Organizations should immediately upgrade to version 5.7 or later of the WPQA Builder plugin, as this update addresses the authorization bypass vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network-level monitoring and access control policies can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 related to data from information repositories, highlighting the need for proper access controls in web applications. The incident underscores the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in WordPress plugins, particularly those handling user communications and sensitive data exchanges.