CVE-2023-30490 in Easing Slider Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Matthew Ruddy Easing Slider allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Easing Slider : from n/a through 3.0.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2024
The CVE-2023-30490 vulnerability represents a critical authorization flaw in the Matthew Ruddy Easing Slider plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions ranging from an unspecified minimum to 3.0.8. This vulnerability falls under the category of incorrectly configured access control security levels, which directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the CWE-285 access control weakness classification. The flaw enables unauthorized users to bypass intended security restrictions and gain access to administrative functions that should be restricted to authorized personnel only.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions within the plugin's access control mechanisms. When users interact with the Easing Slider functionality, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary administrative privileges to perform specific actions. This misconfiguration creates a pathway for attackers to exploit the plugin's administrative interfaces without proper authentication, effectively allowing them to manipulate slider configurations, upload malicious content, or modify plugin settings that should remain restricted to legitimate administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, creating significant risks for WordPress installations that rely on the Easing Slider plugin. Attackers exploiting this flaw can potentially modify website content, inject malicious scripts, or establish persistent backdoors through the slider configuration interfaces. The vulnerability's scope is particularly concerning as it affects a widely used plugin, meaning that numerous websites could be compromised simultaneously. This type of access control failure aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which describes valid accounts usage, where attackers leverage improperly configured access controls to maintain persistence and escalate privileges.
Organizations and system administrators should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the Easing Slider plugin where the vulnerability has been addressed. The patch for this vulnerability typically involves implementing proper permission checks and ensuring that all administrative functions require appropriate authentication and authorization before execution. Additionally, implementing network-level restrictions such as firewall rules to limit access to administrative interfaces, conducting regular security audits of installed plugins, and maintaining comprehensive backup systems are essential defensive measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation as outlined in security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53, which emphasizes the need for robust authentication and authorization controls to prevent unauthorized access to system resources.