CVE-2023-52147 in All In One WP Security & Firewall Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2024
Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor vulnerability in All In One WP Security & Firewall Team All In One WP Security & Firewall allows Accessing Functionality Not Properly Constrained by ACLs.This issue affects All In One WP Security & Firewall: from n/a through 5.2.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2024
The CVE-2023-52147 vulnerability represents a critical exposure of sensitive information through improper access control mechanisms within the All In One WP Security & Firewall plugin for WordPress. This security flaw exists in versions ranging from the initial release through 5.2.4, creating a persistent risk for WordPress sites that rely on this popular security solution for protection. The vulnerability manifests as an insufficient access control list (ACL) implementation that allows unauthorized actors to access functionality that should be restricted to privileged users only.
This weakness falls under the CWE-284 category of Improper Access Control, specifically targeting the failure to properly constrain access to sensitive system functions. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass intended security restrictions and gain access to administrative features or sensitive data that should only be available to authorized administrators. The All In One WP Security & Firewall plugin, designed to protect WordPress installations, becomes a vector for privilege escalation when this access control failure occurs. The flaw essentially allows malicious actors to perform actions that require administrative privileges without proper authentication or authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate core security settings, access sensitive configuration data, or potentially compromise the entire WordPress installation. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can access functionality such as firewall rule management, security log viewing, user management, or other administrative controls that should be protected from unauthorized access. This creates a significant risk for website owners who may not realize their security measures have been circumvented, allowing attackers to maintain persistent access or escalate privileges within the compromised system.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078.004 for Valid Accounts and T1566.001 for Phishing, as attackers can leverage the exposed functionality to establish more persistent access or move laterally within compromised environments. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires minimal technical skill and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment. Organizations using the affected plugin versions face increased risk of data breaches, unauthorized modifications to security configurations, and potential complete system compromise. The exposure of sensitive information through this flaw can include database credentials, security logs, configuration settings, and other administrative data that could be used for further attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to version 5.2.5 or later, which contain the necessary access control fixes. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring for unauthorized access attempts and review security logs for suspicious activity. Network segmentation and additional authentication layers can provide defense-in-depth measures while patches are deployed. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in web applications, particularly those handling sensitive security functions. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in other plugins or custom applications. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates and reduce the window of exposure for known vulnerabilities.