CVE-2023-30488 in Featured Post Creative Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/09/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in WP OnlineSupport, Essential Plugin Featured Post Creative allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Featured Post Creative: from n/a through 1.2.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-30488 represents a critical authorization flaw within the WP OnlineSupport Essential Plugin Featured Post Creative WordPress module. This missing authorization vulnerability stems from improperly configured access control security levels that allow unauthorized users to exploit functionality intended only for administrators or authorized personnel. The issue specifically impacts versions of the Featured Post Creative plugin ranging from the initial release through version 1.2.7, creating a persistent security gap that could be exploited across multiple WordPress installations.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient access control mechanism that fails to properly validate user permissions before executing privileged operations. This misconfiguration allows attackers to bypass intended authorization checks and access administrative features or perform actions that should be restricted to authenticated administrators. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and directly impacts the plugin's ability to enforce proper access controls, creating a pathway for privilege escalation and unauthorized modifications to the WordPress site's featured post configurations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability exposes WordPress sites running the affected plugin to significant security risks including unauthorized content manipulation, potential data breaches, and possible complete compromise of the site's featured post functionality. Attackers could exploit this flaw to modify featured posts, access sensitive configuration data, or potentially use the compromised functionality as a foothold for further attacks within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions indicates a fundamental design flaw that requires immediate remediation to prevent exploitation.
Security professionals should prioritize patching affected installations immediately, as the vulnerability allows for unauthorized access to administrative features without proper authentication. The issue aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege. Organizations should implement network segmentation and monitor for suspicious access patterns in their WordPress environments, while also ensuring that all plugins are regularly updated to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation and the potential consequences when authorization mechanisms fail to properly validate user credentials and permissions.