CVE-2023-0720 in Wicked Folders Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/08/2023
The Wicked Folders plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass due to a missing capability check on the ajax_save_folder_order function in versions up to, and including, 2.18.16. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level permissions and above, to invoke this function and perform actions intended for administrators such as modifying the folder structure maintained by the plugin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0720 affects the Wicked Folders plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.18.16. This represents a critical authorization bypass flaw that undermines the plugin's security model and potentially exposes sensitive administrative functions to unauthorized users. The issue stems from a fundamental flaw in the plugin's access control implementation where proper capability checks are missing from a critical function. The affected function ajax_save_folder_order lacks the necessary permission validation that should prevent users from performing administrative operations without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic access control failure where the plugin fails to verify user capabilities before executing sensitive operations. The ajax_save_folder_order function should require administrator-level privileges to modify folder structures, yet the missing capability check allows authenticated users with subscriber-level permissions and above to invoke this function. This misconfiguration creates a pathway for privilege escalation where lower-privileged users can perform actions that should be restricted to administrators. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the existing authentication mechanism to gain unauthorized access to administrative functions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected plugin. An authenticated attacker with subscriber-level access can manipulate the folder structure maintained by Wicked Folders, potentially disrupting content organization, creating confusion in the user interface, or even gaining insights into the site's structure that could aid further attacks. The impact extends beyond simple folder manipulation as the compromised folder structure could affect how content is organized and displayed, potentially leading to data integrity issues. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it requires only minimal user credentials to exploit, making it accessible to anyone with subscriber-level permissions. This means that compromised user accounts or attackers who have gained access to low-privilege accounts can leverage this flaw to escalate their privileges within the plugin's context. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for persistent attacks where attackers can maintain access to administrative functions through the compromised folder structure, potentially enabling long-term unauthorized access to the site's organizational framework. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques where attackers seek to gain higher-level permissions through application flaws.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0720 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the missing capability check. Administrators should also implement additional monitoring of folder structure modifications to detect unauthorized changes. The recommended approach includes applying the vendor-provided patch, which should introduce proper capability validation for the ajax_save_folder_order function. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls to restrict access to plugin-specific endpoints and conduct thorough security assessments of all installed plugins to identify similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities. Regular security audits should verify that all administrative functions properly validate user capabilities before execution, ensuring compliance with security best practices and reducing the risk of similar vulnerabilities in other components.