CVE-2023-47682 in WP User Frontend Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/17/2024
Improper Privilege Management vulnerability in weDevs WP User Frontend allows Privilege Escalation.This issue affects WP User Frontend: from n/a through 3.6.5.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2024
The CVE-2023-47682 vulnerability represents a critical improper privilege management flaw within the weDevs WP User Frontend plugin, which operates within the WordPress ecosystem. This vulnerability enables attackers to escalate their privileges from a low-privilege user account to an administrator-level account, fundamentally compromising the security posture of affected WordPress installations. The issue specifically affects versions of the plugin ranging from the initial release through version 3.6.5, indicating a prolonged window of exposure for vulnerable systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate user permissions when processing requests related to user management and administrative functions.
The technical implementation of this privilege escalation vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of user role assignments and administrative capabilities within the WordPress user management system. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting specific requests that bypass normal authentication checks and permission validations, allowing them to assume elevated privileges without proper authorization. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which categorizes improper privilege management as a fundamental security weakness that enables unauthorized access to system resources. The flaw essentially allows unauthenticated or low-privileged users to perform administrative actions that should be restricted to authorized administrators only, creating a severe breach in the principle of least privilege that is fundamental to secure system design.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-47682 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over affected WordPress installations. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can modify content, install malicious plugins, access sensitive user data, and potentially use the compromised system as a launchpad for further attacks within the network. The vulnerability affects the core WordPress user management functionality, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to create new administrator accounts, modify existing user permissions, or gain access to administrative interfaces that control critical site features. This type of attack vector is particularly concerning in the context of the ATT&CK framework, as it maps directly to privilege escalation techniques that attackers commonly employ to maintain persistent access and expand their control over compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-47682 require immediate action from affected organizations, including the urgent upgrade to the latest version of the WP User Frontend plugin where the vulnerability has been addressed. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring for unusual user activity, reviewing user permissions regularly, and ensuring that only necessary users have administrative privileges. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security audits and the need for proper input validation and access control mechanisms within web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, the principle of defense in depth should be applied by restricting direct access to administrative interfaces and implementing multi-factor authentication for all administrative accounts. This vulnerability underscores the critical need for developers to follow secure coding practices and for organizations to maintain up-to-date security patches across all their web applications and plugins.