CVE-2023-41865 in Slider Pro Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in bqworks Slider Pro allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Slider Pro: from n/a through 4.8.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2024
The CVE-2023-41865 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the bqworks Slider Pro plugin, which operates as a content management system component for wordpress platforms. This security weakness manifests through incorrectly configured access control security levels that permit unauthorized users to exploit functionality that should be restricted to privileged administrators. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions of Slider Pro ranging from an unspecified starting point through version 4.8.6, indicating a broad scope of affected installations that could potentially include numerous wordpress sites relying on this slider plugin for multimedia content presentation.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate authorization checks within the plugin's code structure, where access control mechanisms fail to properly validate user permissions before executing sensitive operations. This misconfiguration allows attackers to bypass intended security boundaries and access administrative functions that should only be available to authorized personnel with appropriate privileges. The vulnerability operates at the application level where proper authentication and authorization controls are not adequately enforced, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in authorization controls where insufficient access control validation permits unauthorized access to protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to manipulate slider configurations, potentially leading to defacement of websites, data manipulation, or even complete system compromise. Attackers could exploit this flaw to modify slider settings, inject malicious content, or access sensitive configuration data that might reveal other system information. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used plugin means that compromised sites could become part of botnets or be used as launching points for further attacks against other systems. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation through unauthorized access to system resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-41865 require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams responsible for wordpress installations. The primary remediation involves updating the bqworks Slider Pro plugin to a version that addresses the authorization flaw, ensuring that all affected installations receive the necessary security patches. Additionally, administrators should implement comprehensive access control reviews to identify and correct any other misconfigurations within their wordpress environments. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar authorization weaknesses in other plugins and themes. The remediation process should also include verification that proper user role management is implemented, ensuring that only authorized personnel maintain administrative access to critical system components. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and additional monitoring controls to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.