CVE-2023-2497 in UserPro Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/22/2023
The UserPro plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 5.1.0. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the 'import_settings' function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to exploit PHP Object Injection due to the use of unserialize() on the user supplied parameter via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2026
The CVE-2023-2497 vulnerability resides within the UserPro plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions up to and including 5.1.0. This represents a critical security flaw that combines multiple exploit vectors to create a dangerous attack surface for WordPress installations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the plugin's import_settings functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the system's behavior through carefully crafted requests. The weakness is particularly concerning because it allows for privilege escalation and potentially full system compromise when combined with social engineering techniques.
The technical core of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper nonce validation within the import_settings function, which is designed to prevent unauthorized modifications to plugin configurations. This missing security control creates a CSRF attack vector that can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers to manipulate the plugin's behavior. The vulnerability becomes even more dangerous when combined with the plugin's reliance on the unserialize() PHP function, which processes user-supplied data without adequate sanitization. This combination creates a perfect storm for PHP Object Injection attacks, where attackers can craft malicious serialized data that, when processed by unserialize(), executes arbitrary code on the target server.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation, as it can lead to complete system compromise when attackers successfully trick administrators into performing actions. The attack requires minimal privileges from the attacker's perspective, as they only need to convince an administrator to click on a malicious link or perform a specific action within the context of their authenticated session. This social engineering component makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently click on links from untrusted sources or where phishing attacks are common. The consequences can range from data theft and modification to complete system takeover, depending on the attacker's objectives and the server's configuration.
From a security standards perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-502, which covers PHP Object Injection through untrusted data processing. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1211 for Lateral Movement and T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code on the target system. Organizations running affected versions of the UserPro plugin should immediately implement mitigations including plugin updates to the latest secure version, implementation of proper nonce validation, and comprehensive monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. Additionally, administrators should conduct security awareness training to prevent successful social engineering attacks and implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting this specific vulnerability.