CVE-2023-2982 in Social Login and Register Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/29/2023
The WordPress Social Login and Register (Discord, Google, Twitter, LinkedIn) plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authentication bypass in versions up to, and including, 7.6.4. This is due to insufficient encryption on the user being supplied during a login validated through the plugin. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to log in as any existing user on the site, such as an administrator, if they know the email address associated with that user. This was partially patched in version 7.6.4 and fully patched in version 7.6.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2026
The WordPress Social Login and Register plugin presents a critical authentication bypass vulnerability that fundamentally undermines the security of WordPress installations relying on social login functionality. This vulnerability affects versions up to and including 7.6.4, creating a significant risk for administrators and users who depend on the plugin for social authentication. The flaw manifests through inadequate encryption mechanisms during the authentication process, specifically when validating user credentials through social platforms such as Discord, Google, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Attackers exploiting this weakness can manipulate the authentication flow to gain unauthorized access to any existing user account on the WordPress site, with particular concern for administrator accounts that possess elevated privileges. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only knowledge of a target user's email address, making it particularly dangerous as it reduces the attack surface to minimal information gathering requirements.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient cryptographic protection during the social login validation process, which creates a path for attackers to manipulate authentication tokens or session data. This weakness allows unauthenticated adversaries to forge legitimate authentication requests that the plugin accepts as valid, effectively bypassing the normal authentication checks that should verify user identity. The vulnerability operates at the authentication layer, where proper encryption and validation mechanisms should ensure that only legitimate users can access accounts. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in cryptographic implementation where insufficient encryption or hashing mechanisms are employed during authentication processes. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 which covers legitimate credentials obtained through social engineering and credential access through exploitation of authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as attackers can potentially escalate privileges and execute malicious activities within the compromised WordPress environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability gains the ability to perform actions as any existing user, including administrators, which could lead to complete system compromise. This includes the potential to modify content, install malicious plugins, access sensitive user data, and manipulate site configurations. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it does not require prior authentication credentials or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to attackers with basic technical knowledge. The partial patch implemented in version 7.6.4 suggests that the initial fix was incomplete, requiring a full patch in version 7.6.5 to properly address the underlying cryptographic weaknesses in the plugin's authentication flow. Organizations using this plugin must urgently upgrade to version 7.6.5 or later to ensure complete protection against this authentication bypass vulnerability.
The security implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of proper cryptographic implementation in authentication systems, particularly when dealing with third-party social login integrations. WordPress plugin developers must ensure that all authentication-related data is properly encrypted and validated to prevent manipulation of the authentication flow. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in cryptographic processes can create significant security risks that undermine the entire authentication system. The patching process required for this vulnerability emphasizes the need for thorough testing of security fixes to ensure complete remediation rather than partial solutions that may leave systems vulnerable to continued exploitation. Organizations should implement monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and maintain current plugin versions as part of their security baseline to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.