CVE-2023-1022 in WP Meta SEO Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2023
The WP Meta SEO plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized options update due to a missing capability check on the wpmsGGSaveInformation function in versions up to, and including, 4.5.3. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with subscriber-level access to update google analytics options maintained by the plugin. This vulnerability occurred as a result of the plugin relying on nonce checks as a means of access control, and that nonce being accessible to all authenticated users regardless of role.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1022 affects the WP Meta SEO plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 4.5.3. This represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security model of the plugin by allowing unauthorized modifications to Google Analytics configuration settings. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's improper implementation of capability checks within the wpmsGGSaveInformation function, which should have enforced role-based access controls but instead permitted any authenticated user to execute sensitive operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the plugin's security architecture where nonce validation was incorrectly used as the sole access control mechanism. In WordPress security models, nonces serve as time-based tokens to verify that actions originate from legitimate sources, but they should never function as standalone access control measures. The flaw manifests because the nonce validation routine does not properly verify user capabilities or roles, allowing attackers with minimal privileges to submit requests that would normally require administrator-level permissions. This misconfiguration creates a privilege escalation vector where subscribers can manipulate plugin settings that should remain restricted to authorized personnel.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected plugin. An authenticated attacker with subscriber-level access can modify Google Analytics tracking codes, potentially redirecting analytics data to malicious endpoints or injecting tracking scripts that could compromise user privacy. The impact extends beyond simple data manipulation as it enables attackers to gain insights into website traffic patterns and potentially use this information for further attacks. The vulnerability also creates opportunities for attackers to establish persistent monitoring capabilities or redirect traffic to malicious domains, effectively compromising the integrity of the website's analytics infrastructure.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a classic example of inadequate access control implementation, aligning with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to system resources. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to patched versions of the WP Meta SEO plugin, implementing additional access controls through custom code or security plugins, and monitoring for unauthorized changes to analytics configurations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper capability checks in WordPress plugin development and underscores the need for comprehensive security reviews of authentication mechanisms beyond simple nonce validation.