CVE-2023-46611 in YOP Poll Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/02/2025
Authentication Bypass by Primary Weakness vulnerability in yourownprogrammer YOP Poll allows Authentication Bypass.This issue affects YOP Poll: from n/a through 6.5.28.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-46611 represents a critical authentication bypass weakness within the YOP Poll plugin for WordPress systems. This issue stems from a fundamental flaw in the plugin's primary authentication mechanism, allowing unauthorized users to bypass the standard access controls and gain administrative privileges. The vulnerability exists across all versions of YOP Poll from the initial release through version 6.5.28, indicating a prolonged exposure window that could have enabled extensive unauthorized access to affected systems. The flaw specifically targets the plugin's authentication logic, creating a pathway for attackers to escalate their privileges without proper credentials.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through a weakness in the plugin's access control validation processes. Attackers can exploit this primary weakness to circumvent the normal authentication flow that should verify user credentials and permissions before granting access to administrative functions. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when the system fails to properly validate user identity or when the authentication checks are implemented with insufficient security controls. The issue falls under the broader category of authentication bypass vulnerabilities that can severely compromise system integrity and allow for complete administrative control over affected WordPress installations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access, as it enables attackers to perform administrative actions such as modifying poll configurations, deleting content, manipulating user data, and potentially installing malicious plugins or themes. This authentication bypass creates a persistent backdoor that could remain undetected for extended periods, allowing attackers to maintain access while executing further malicious activities. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions suggests that organizations using affected WordPress installations may have been exposed to unauthorized access for an extended timeframe, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruption, and reputational damage.
Security practitioners should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the latest version of YOP Poll where the vulnerability has been addressed. The fix typically involves strengthening the authentication validation mechanisms and ensuring proper access control checks are enforced throughout the plugin's administrative interfaces. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor for suspicious administrative activities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-287 which addresses improper authentication issues, and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls and monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all WordPress core files and plugins remain updated with the latest security patches.