CVE-2023-46605 in Convertful Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2025
Missing Authorization vulnerability in Ruslan Suhar Convertful – Your Ultimate On-Site Conversion Tool allows Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels.This issue affects Convertful – Your Ultimate On-Site Conversion Tool: from n/a through 2.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The CVE-2023-46605 vulnerability represents a critical missing authorization flaw within the Convertful plugin for WordPress, specifically impacting versions ranging from an unspecified initial version through 2.5. This vulnerability falls under the category of incorrect access control configuration, which directly violates fundamental security principles outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and CWE-285. The issue manifests as an improperly configured access control mechanism that allows unauthorized users to exploit functionality that should be restricted to administrators or authorized personnel only. This misconfiguration creates a pathway for attackers to bypass intended security boundaries and access restricted features within the plugin's administrative interface.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate validation of user permissions when processing requests within the Convertful plugin. When users interact with the plugin's functionality, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary privileges to perform specific actions. This absence of proper authorization checks creates a scenario where any authenticated user, regardless of their role or permissions level, can potentially access administrative functions and sensitive data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the access control level, making it difficult to detect through standard scanning mechanisms and often requiring deep understanding of the application's internal logic to exploit successfully.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it can enable attackers to manipulate conversion tools and potentially compromise the entire WordPress installation. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could modify conversion settings, access user data, manipulate conversion tracking mechanisms, or even escalate privileges within the plugin's environment. The affected plugin's role as an on-site conversion tool means that successful exploitation could lead to data exfiltration, manipulation of conversion metrics, or even serve as a foothold for further attacks within the WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as it allows unauthorized access through improperly configured permissions.
Security mitigations for CVE-2023-46605 should focus on implementing proper access control validation throughout the plugin's codebase, ensuring that all administrative functions require appropriate user permissions before execution. The recommended approach includes implementing role-based access control checks, validating user capabilities before processing sensitive operations, and ensuring that all API endpoints properly verify authorization levels. Organizations should immediately update to the latest version of Convertful where this vulnerability has been patched, and conduct thorough security assessments of all installed plugins to identify similar misconfigurations. Additionally, implementing network-level monitoring and logging of administrative activities can help detect unauthorized access attempts and provide early warning of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper authorization implementation as outlined in NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 controls for access control management.