CVE-2023-2286 in WP Activity Log Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/09/2023
The WP Activity Log for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 4.5.0. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the ajax_run_cleanup function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to invoke this function via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2026
The WP Activity Log plugin for WordPress represents a widely used logging solution that tracks user activities and system events within WordPress environments. This particular vulnerability affects versions up to and including 4.5.0, making it a significant concern for WordPress administrators who have not yet updated their installations. The plugin's functionality includes monitoring administrative actions, user logins, and other critical system activities, which makes it a valuable target for attackers seeking to exploit weaknesses in the WordPress ecosystem.
The technical flaw resides in the ajax_run_cleanup function which lacks proper nonce validation mechanisms. Nonce validation serves as a critical security control that ensures requests originate from legitimate sources within the WordPress application. In this case, the absence of proper nonce verification creates a cross-site request forgery vulnerability that allows attackers to execute unauthorized administrative functions. The vulnerability specifically impacts the ajax_run_cleanup functionality which likely handles cleanup operations for activity logs, potentially including data deletion or modification tasks that require administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation as it provides attackers with a pathway to perform administrative actions without authentication. An attacker can craft a malicious request that, when triggered by an administrator, executes the cleanup function with potentially harmful consequences. This could include deleting important log data, corrupting activity records, or even manipulating the plugin's configuration in ways that compromise the integrity of the logging system. The vulnerability's exploitation requires social engineering to trick administrators into clicking malicious links, but once triggered, it can cause significant disruption to the security monitoring capabilities that the plugin provides.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in software applications. The attack vector follows patterns described in the ATT&CK framework under T1566, which covers social engineering techniques used to manipulate individuals into performing actions that compromise security. The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor security oversights in plugin development can create significant risks for WordPress installations. Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 4.5.1 or later, which includes the necessary nonce validation fixes. Additionally, administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious administrative activities and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block potential exploitation attempts. The incident underscores the critical importance of proper security validation in all AJAX endpoints and highlights the necessity of adhering to security best practices in plugin development to prevent unauthorized administrative access through CSRF vulnerabilities.