CVE-2023-2284 in WP Activity Log Premium Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2023
The WP Activity Log Premium plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the ajax_switch_db function in versions up to, and including, 4.5.0. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with subscriber-level or higher to make changes to the plugin's settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2026
The WP Activity Log Premium plugin represents a critical security vulnerability that undermines the integrity of WordPress installations through insufficient access controls. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's ajax_switch_db function, which fails to implement proper capability verification before allowing data modification operations. The flaw affects all versions up to and including 4.5.0, creating a persistent risk for WordPress sites that rely on this premium plugin for activity monitoring and logging. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data exposure as it enables authenticated attackers to manipulate core plugin configurations, potentially compromising the entire logging infrastructure and undermining security monitoring capabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of capability checks within the ajax_switch_db function, which operates without verifying whether the requesting user possesses sufficient privileges to modify plugin settings. This missing validation creates an authorization bypass scenario where any user account with subscriber-level permissions or higher can execute administrative functions through the plugin's ajax interface. The flaw directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and access control enforcement, allowing attackers to escalate their privileges within the plugin's operational scope. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks that can be exploited through legitimate plugin interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple configuration changes, as attackers can potentially alter logging parameters, modify database connections, and manipulate audit trails that security teams rely upon for monitoring and incident response. This capability allows malicious actors to establish persistent access points within the WordPress environment while simultaneously undermining the integrity of security logs. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to disable security features, redirect logging data, or modify plugin behavior in ways that could obscure their activities from detection systems. Organizations relying on WP Activity Log Premium for compliance monitoring or security auditing face significant risks as this vulnerability compromises the fundamental trustworthiness of their logging infrastructure.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of broader attack patterns documented in the attack mitigation framework, particularly those involving privilege escalation and administrative interface exploitation. The flaw aligns with common attack techniques described in the attack pattern taxonomy where attackers exploit missing access controls to gain unauthorized administrative capabilities. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including plugin version updates, temporary disabling of the vulnerable ajax endpoints, and enhanced monitoring of plugin configuration changes. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and the need for comprehensive access control validation across all plugin interfaces, as recommended in industry standards for secure web application development and maintenance practices.