CVE-2023-41869 in WP Accessibility Helper Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Alex Volkov WP Accessibility Helper (WAH) allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects WP Accessibility Helper (WAH): from n/a through 0.6.2.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the WordPress plugin known as WP Accessibility Helper, specifically affecting versions ranging from initial releases up to version 0.6.2.4. This vulnerability is classified fundamentally as a Broken Access Control issue, which aligns with CWE-284 in the Common Weakness Enumeration taxonomy. The core technical deficiency involves an absence of proper authorization checks on specific administrative or sensitive endpoints exposed by the plugin. In web application architecture, access control mechanisms are designed to ensure that users can only act within their authorized permissions. When these controls are incorrectly configured or entirely missing, it allows attackers to bypass intended restrictions and perform actions as higher-privileged users without authentication.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability typically manifests when the plugin fails to verify whether the current user session possesses the necessary privileges before processing requests that modify settings, manage accessibility features, or access restricted data. An attacker can exploit this by crafting specific HTTP requests directed at these unprotected endpoints. Because the server does not validate the authorization header or session token against a predefined role hierarchy, it processes the request as if it originated from an administrator or another privileged account. This represents a classic case of insecure direct object references combined with missing function level access control, where the application logic assumes that any user reaching these functions is authorized to execute them.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe due to its potential for privilege escalation and unauthorized configuration changes. If successfully exploited, an attacker could gain administrative-level access to the WordPress installation without needing valid credentials. This compromise allows the modification of site-wide accessibility settings, potentially introducing malicious code or scripts under the guise of legitimate plugin functionality. Furthermore, it enables the exfiltration of sensitive user data stored within the database that should be restricted from public view. The ability to alter core configurations also means an attacker could disable security features, inject backdoors, or deface the website, leading to significant reputational damage and potential compliance violations depending on the nature of the hosted content.
In terms of threat modeling, this vulnerability maps directly to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1078, which covers Valid Accounts and specifically T1098 for Account Manipulation if used to create persistent backdoor accounts. It also relates to T1546, Event Triggered Execution, if the plugin hooks into system events that are then manipulated by an attacker with elevated privileges. The exploitation path is relatively straightforward, requiring only basic knowledge of web request manipulation tools such as curl or Burp Suite, making it accessible even to low-skilled threat actors. This lowers the barrier for entry and increases the likelihood of automated scanning and opportunistic attacks targeting sites running vulnerable versions of this plugin.
Mitigation strategies must prioritize immediate remediation through software updates. Administrators should upgrade WP Accessibility Helper to a version later than 0.6.2.4, where the developer has presumably implemented robust authorization checks for all sensitive endpoints. Until an update is applied or if no patch exists, temporary mitigations include restricting access to the WordPress admin area via IP whitelisting and ensuring that file permissions are set strictly according to best practices. Additionally, implementing a Web Application Firewall can help detect and block anomalous requests targeting known vulnerable paths associated with this plugin. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to verify that access control policies are correctly enforced across all custom plugins and themes integrated into the WordPress environment.