CVE-2023-46148 in Themify Ultra Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/19/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Themify Themify Ultra.This issue affects Themify Ultra: from n/a through 7.3.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46148 represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Themify Ultra WordPress theme, specifically impacting versions ranging from the initial release through 7.3.5. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient authorization checks as defined by CWE-863, where the application fails to properly verify that authenticated users have the necessary privileges to access specific resources or perform certain actions. The issue manifests in the theme's inability to enforce proper access controls, potentially allowing unauthorized users to perform administrative functions or access restricted content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions within the theme's codebase, particularly in areas where administrative functions are exposed through web interfaces or API endpoints. Attackers exploiting this weakness can bypass normal authentication mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to theme settings, content management features, or other privileged operations that should only be available to administrators or authorized personnel. This flaw operates at the application layer and can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for valid accounts and T1566.002 for social engineering, as it essentially allows unauthorized access through the exploitation of legitimate user credentials or by creating unauthorized access paths.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can potentially lead to complete compromise of the WordPress installation when combined with other exploitation techniques. An attacker who successfully exploits this missing authorization check could modify theme configurations, inject malicious code, or potentially escalate privileges to gain full administrative control over the affected website. The vulnerability affects all users of the Themify Ultra theme within the specified version range, making it particularly dangerous as it impacts a wide user base without requiring complex exploitation methods. This weakness can be leveraged as an initial access vector in broader attack campaigns targeting WordPress environments.
Organizations and website administrators should immediately update to the latest version of the Themify Ultra theme where this vulnerability has been patched, as the affected versions through 7.3.5 contain the problematic authorization logic that allows unauthorized access. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of their WordPress installations to identify any other themes or plugins that might exhibit similar authorization flaws. The mitigation strategy should include immediate patching, implementation of web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious access patterns, and regular security assessments of all installed WordPress components. Additionally, administrators should review user permissions and implement principle of least privilege access controls to minimize potential damage from such authorization bypass vulnerabilities.