CVE-2023-51405 in BookingPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/24/2024
Improper Authentication vulnerability in Repute Infosystems BookingPress allows Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs.This issue affects BookingPress: from n/a through 1.0.74.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/13/2025
The CVE-2023-51405 vulnerability represents a critical improper authentication flaw within the BookingPress plugin developed by Repute Infosystems. This vulnerability stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that fail to properly constrain functionality access based on user roles and permissions. The issue exists in versions ranging from the initial release through 1.0.74, indicating a prolonged period during which the authentication mechanism remained vulnerable to exploitation. The flaw essentially allows unauthorized users to access administrative functions and features that should be restricted to legitimate administrators or authorized personnel.
This authentication bypass vulnerability operates through a failure in the plugin's access control list implementation, where the system does not adequately verify user credentials or roles before granting access to sensitive administrative functionalities. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-285 category of Improper Authorization, which specifically addresses situations where systems fail to properly enforce access controls. When exploited, this weakness enables attackers to bypass standard authentication mechanisms and gain access to booking management features, user data, and potentially sensitive system configurations. The improper constraint of access controls means that users who should not have administrative privileges can perform actions typically restricted to authorized administrators.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access to encompass potential data breaches, system compromise, and disruption of business operations. Attackers could manipulate booking records, modify user permissions, access confidential customer information, and potentially escalate their privileges within the affected system. This vulnerability particularly affects small to medium businesses that rely on BookingPress for their appointment and booking management systems, as it could lead to financial losses, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage. The attack surface is significant since BookingPress is widely used for various booking applications including medical appointments, salon services, and professional scheduling systems where sensitive data is routinely handled.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of BookingPress where the vulnerability has been patched, implementing additional authentication layers, and conducting thorough access control reviews. The remediation process should involve verifying that all user roles are properly configured and that access control lists are correctly enforced. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and establishing regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify similar issues in other plugins or systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1078 Valid Accounts and T1566 Phishing techniques, as attackers could potentially leverage this weakness to establish persistent access or use social engineering to exploit the authentication bypass for more extensive attacks. Regular security audits and adherence to the principle of least privilege should be enforced to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.