CVE-2023-51667 in Rate my Post Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2024
Authentication Bypass by Spoofing vulnerability in FeedbackWP Rate my Post – WP Rating System allows Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs.This issue affects Rate my Post – WP Rating System: from n/a through 3.4.2.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/30/2025
The CVE-2023-51667 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within the FeedbackWP Rate my Post – WP Rating System plugin for WordPress. This issue stems from improper input validation and insufficient access control mechanisms that allow malicious actors to circumvent the intended authentication checks. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the plugin fails to properly verify user credentials or session tokens before granting access to restricted administrative functions. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to the plugin's administrative interfaces and potentially the broader WordPress installation. The flaw exists across all versions from the initial release through version 3.4.2, indicating a long-standing issue that has persisted without proper remediation. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates inadequate implementation of access control validation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through spoofing mechanisms that manipulate the authentication flow within the plugin's rating system functionality. The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious requests that appear to originate from legitimate authenticated users, thereby bypassing the standard authentication checks. This spoofing technique typically involves manipulating HTTP headers, session identifiers, or API parameters that the plugin relies upon to verify user identity. The vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor path through which unauthorized users can access administrative features that should only be available to authorized personnel. From a cybersecurity perspective, this represents a classic case of insufficient authorization validation where the system assumes that certain requests are legitimate without proper verification.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-51667 extends beyond simple unauthorized access to potentially enable full administrative control of affected WordPress installations. Once exploited, attackers can modify or delete rating data, manipulate user reviews, install malicious plugins, or even exfiltrate sensitive data from the site. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple versions suggests that organizations running affected systems face prolonged exposure without proper patching. This creates a significant risk for businesses relying on the plugin for customer feedback systems, as the compromise could damage brand reputation and potentially lead to regulatory compliance violations. The vulnerability also increases the attack surface for more sophisticated attacks, as the compromised system can serve as a launchpad for further exploitation within the network infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including applying the latest available patches to resolve the authentication bypass vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious authentication requests. Network segmentation and monitoring of administrative access patterns can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and maintaining up-to-date security configurations remain critical defensive measures. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected systems and implement comprehensive monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts.