CVE-2023-2078 in Buy Me a Coffee Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/11/2023
The "Buy Me a Coffee – Button and Widget Plugin" plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to missing capability checks on the recieve_post, bmc_disconnect, name_post, and widget_post functions in versions up to, and including, 3.7. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with minimal permissions such as subscribers, to update the plugins settings. CVE-2023-25030 may be a duplicate of this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2026
The vulnerability identified in CVE-2023-2078 affects the "Buy Me a Coffee – Button and Widget Plugin" for WordPress, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of the platform. This plugin, widely used for creating donation buttons and widgets, contains four vulnerable functions - receive_post, bmc_disconnect, name_post, and widget_post - that fail to properly validate user capabilities before processing sensitive data modifications. The flaw exists in plugin versions up to and including 3.7, creating a persistent risk for WordPress installations that rely on this functionality. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper capability checks, which are fundamental security controls that ensure only users with appropriate permissions can perform administrative actions within WordPress.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the scope of CWE-863, which addresses "Incorrect Authorization" - a category that encompasses situations where software fails to properly verify that an actor is authorized to perform a requested operation. Attackers exploiting this weakness can leverage minimal user permissions, specifically those available to subscribers or other low-privilege accounts, to manipulate plugin settings and potentially compromise the entire website's configuration. The functions in question are designed to handle critical data processing operations including receiving payment information, disconnecting accounts, updating names, and modifying widget configurations. Without proper capability validation, these functions become attack vectors that can be exploited by malicious users who gain access to any account with subscriber-level privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks that can compromise the integrity and availability of WordPress sites. An authenticated attacker with subscriber-level access could potentially redirect donation processing, modify widget displays, or disable plugin functionality entirely, leading to both financial and reputational damage for website owners. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers "Valid Accounts: Cloud Accounts," as attackers could potentially use compromised subscriber accounts to escalate their privileges within the plugin's administrative interface. This weakness particularly affects websites that rely heavily on user-generated content or community features, where subscriber accounts may be more easily compromised or where attackers might gain access through social engineering or credential theft.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that address the capability check deficiencies, as well as implementing additional security measures such as role-based access controls and monitoring for unauthorized configuration changes. WordPress administrators should conduct thorough audits of user permissions and ensure that only trusted users have access to accounts that could potentially exploit this vulnerability. The fix should implement proper capability checks using WordPress's built-in functions such as current_user_can() to verify that users possess the necessary permissions before executing sensitive operations. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability pattern, which aligns with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar authorization flaws in other plugins and themes that may present similar risks to the WordPress ecosystem.