CVE-2023-3604 in Change WP Admin Login Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/21/2023
The Change WP Admin Login WordPress plugin before 1.1.4 discloses the URL of the hidden login page when accessing a crafted URL, bypassing the protection offered.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2024
The CVE-2023-3604 vulnerability affects the Change WP Admin Login WordPress plugin version 1.1.3 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the intended protection mechanisms of the plugin. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's attempt to hide the standard WordPress admin login page by redirecting users to a custom login URL. The flaw allows attackers to discover the hidden login page URL through a crafted request, effectively bypassing the security controls that were implemented to prevent unauthorized access to the WordPress administration interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient access control measures within the plugin's URL handling mechanism. When users attempt to access a specially crafted URL that triggers the plugin's hidden login page functionality, the system fails to properly restrict access to this information. This weakness creates a disclosure vulnerability where the actual URL of the hidden login page is exposed to unauthorized parties who may not have legitimate access to the WordPress installation. The flaw operates at the application layer and can be exploited through simple HTTP requests without requiring authentication or advanced technical skills.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-3604 is significant as it directly undermines the security posture of WordPress installations that rely on this plugin for administrative access protection. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to discover the hidden admin login page URL and subsequently attempt brute force attacks, credential stuffing, or other exploitation techniques against the WordPress administration interface. This creates an increased attack surface that makes the target system more vulnerable to unauthorized access, potential data breaches, and full system compromise. The vulnerability essentially nullifies the security benefits that administrators expect from using the plugin to hide their admin login page.
Organizations using affected versions of the Change WP Admin Login plugin should immediately update to version 1.1.4 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this disclosure vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement multiple layers of protection including strong authentication mechanisms, rate limiting for login attempts, and monitoring for suspicious access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1110.003 for credential stuffing attacks. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of their WordPress installations to identify any other plugins that may be vulnerable to similar disclosure flaws and ensure comprehensive protection against automated attack vectors targeting WordPress administration interfaces.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive administrative functions. The flaw represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper information hiding mechanisms, allowing attackers to gain knowledge that should remain restricted to authorized users only. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and regular security assessments to protect against similar vulnerabilities in their WordPress environments and other web applications.