CVE-2023-2545 in Feather Login Page
Summary
by MITRE • 05/31/2023
The Feather Login Page plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the 'getListOfUsers' function in versions starting from 1.0.7 up to, and including, 1.1.1. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level permissions and above, to access the login links, which can be used for privilege escalation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2023
The CVE-2023-2545 vulnerability resides within the Feather Login Page plugin for WordPress, a widely used authentication enhancement tool that allows administrators to create custom login pages and manage user access. This particular flaw represents a critical authorization bypass issue that undermines the security model of WordPress installations relying on this plugin. The vulnerability affects versions ranging from 1.0.7 through 1.1.1, creating a window of exposure for numerous WordPress sites that have not yet updated to patched versions. The issue stems from inadequate access control implementation within the plugin's core functionality, specifically in how it handles user privilege verification.
The technical flaw manifests in the 'getListOfUsers' function which fails to perform proper capability checks before exposing sensitive user data. This function, designed to retrieve user information for login page functionality, operates without verifying whether the requesting user possesses appropriate authorization levels. The vulnerability is classified as a missing authorization check under CWE-863, which represents a weakness where the system fails to verify that an actor has sufficient authorization to perform a requested action. In this case, the system should validate that only users with administrative privileges can access the complete user listing, but instead grants access to any authenticated user with subscriber-level permissions or higher. The flaw enables attackers to exploit this function through legitimate plugin interfaces, bypassing normal WordPress access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-2545 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates a pathway for privilege escalation attacks that can compromise entire WordPress installations. An authenticated attacker with subscriber-level access can leverage this vulnerability to obtain login links for other users, potentially enabling them to impersonate higher-privileged accounts or gain access to administrative interfaces. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004, which covers valid accounts used for unauthorized access, as attackers can exploit legitimate user accounts to escalate privileges. The exposure of login links and user information creates opportunities for social engineering attacks, credential harvesting, and lateral movement within compromised networks. Organizations running vulnerable versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive user data, potential account takeovers, and the possibility of attackers using the exposed information to launch more sophisticated attacks against their infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-2545 should begin with immediate plugin updates to versions that address the authorization bypass flaw, as vendors typically release patches to resolve such security issues. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts and unusual data queries within their WordPress installations. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting user permissions and regularly auditing access controls to ensure that only authorized personnel can access sensitive plugin functions. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting known vulnerabilities in WordPress plugins. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar authorization flaws in other installed plugins and themes, as this represents a common pattern in WordPress security vulnerabilities that can lead to significant compromise of user accounts and system integrity.