CVE-2022-43476 in Subscribe to Category Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2025
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Daniel Söderström / Sidney van de Stouwe Subscribe to Category allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Subscribe to Category: from n/a through 2.7.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-43476 represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Subscribe to Category WordPress plugin, specifically impacting versions ranging from n/a through 2.7.4. This security weakness stems from incorrectly configured access control security levels that permit unauthorized users to exploit functionality intended for privileged access only. The issue manifests within a plugin designed to manage user subscriptions to specific categories, creating a scenario where malicious actors can bypass intended authorization checks and gain access to restricted administrative functions.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-863 category, which specifically addresses "Incorrect Authorization" within software systems. The flaw operates by failing to properly validate user permissions before executing privileged operations, allowing attackers to manipulate the plugin's behavior through crafted requests. The missing authorization check creates a direct pathway for unauthorized access to subscription management features that should only be available to administrators or authenticated users with appropriate privileges. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform actions such as subscribing users to categories without proper authorization, potentially leading to data exposure or manipulation of subscription lists.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypass, as it can enable attackers to manipulate user subscription data and potentially gain insights into user behavior patterns or subscription preferences. The security implications are particularly concerning in environments where subscription data might contain sensitive information or where the plugin integrates with other systems that rely on accurate subscription management. This flaw can be exploited through various attack vectors including direct API manipulation, parameter tampering, or by leveraging other vulnerabilities that might exist within the WordPress ecosystem to gain initial access before exploiting this specific authorization weakness.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-43476 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization flaw, as vendors typically release patches to correct such issues. Organizations should implement network-level controls to monitor for suspicious API calls or subscription-related requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing, as attackers often leverage unauthorized access to perform further reconnaissance or establish persistent access. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and ensuring that all user actions are properly authenticated and authorized before execution can prevent similar issues in other components of the WordPress environment. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar authorization flaws that might exist in other plugins or custom code implementations.