CVE-2023-4920 in BEAR Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
The BEAR for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 1.1.3.3. This is due to missing or incorrect nonce validation on the woobe_save_options function. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to modify the plugin's settings via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link. Additionally, input sanitization and escaping is insufficient resulting in the possibility of malicious script injection.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2026
The BEAR for WordPress plugin presents a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that affects versions through 1.1.3.3, representing a significant security weakness in web application defenses. This vulnerability stems from inadequate nonce validation mechanisms within the woobe_save_options function, which serves as the primary interface for modifying plugin configurations. The absence of proper cryptographic token verification allows malicious actors to craft forged requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress administrative interface. According to the CWE taxonomy, this corresponds to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities where insufficient validation of request origins permits unauthorized operations. The vulnerability operates under the principle that authenticated sessions can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers who manipulate the request flow through social engineering techniques.
The technical flaw manifests through the complete omission of nonce verification in the woobe_save_options function, which is designed to protect against unauthorized configuration changes. A nonce is a unique, time-sensitive token that ensures requests originate from legitimate sources within the same session context. Without this protection, attackers can construct malicious requests that bypass the normal authentication checks required for administrative operations. The vulnerability extends beyond simple CSRF to include insufficient input sanitization and output escaping, creating a pathway for persistent script injection attacks. This dual weakness means that even if an attacker cannot directly exploit the CSRF mechanism, they can still inject malicious scripts through the improperly sanitized input fields, creating potential for XSS attacks that persist across user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for WordPress administrators who rely on the BEAR plugin for their website management tasks. Attackers can manipulate critical plugin settings without requiring valid authentication credentials, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected WordPress installation. The social engineering aspect of this vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous as administrators must be tricked into clicking malicious links or visiting compromised websites that trigger the forged requests. This attack vector aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1566 technique for Initial Access through Spearphishing Attachments or Links, where the compromised plugin becomes a weaponized attack surface. The vulnerability can result in data manipulation, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potentially complete system compromise through the exploitation of the administrative interface.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the nonce validation issue, as this represents the most direct solution to the core vulnerability. Administrators must also implement additional security measures including the enforcement of proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms throughout the plugin codebase. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth by monitoring for suspicious request patterns and malformed parameters. Regular security audits should verify that all administrative functions implement proper nonce validation and that input handling follows secure coding practices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing robust security controls around administrative interfaces, as outlined in industry best practices for WordPress security hardening and the OWASP Top Ten security risks. Organizations should also consider implementing user education programs to reduce the effectiveness of social engineering attacks targeting administrative users.