CVE-2023-52177 in Integrate Google Drive Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/12/2024
Missing Authorization vulnerability in SoftLab Integrate Google Drive.This issue affects Integrate Google Drive: from n/a through 1.3.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2024
The CVE-2023-52177 vulnerability represents a critical authorization bypass flaw within the SoftLab Integrate Google Drive plugin, which operates as a bridge between WordPress websites and Google Drive services. This vulnerability exists in versions ranging from the initial release through 1.3.3, creating a persistent security gap that allows unauthorized users to access restricted functionality. The flaw fundamentally undermines the plugin's ability to properly verify user credentials and permissions, effectively disabling the intended access controls that should govern who can interact with Google Drive integration features.
This missing authorization issue manifests as a failure in the plugin's authentication mechanism to properly validate user privileges before granting access to sensitive operations. The vulnerability enables attackers to exploit the integration interface without proper authorization, potentially allowing them to manipulate Google Drive files, access confidential data, or perform administrative actions through the compromised WordPress site. The flaw operates at the application level, where the plugin fails to implement adequate access control checks, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by both authenticated and unauthenticated users depending on the specific implementation details.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. Attackers could leverage this weakness to establish persistent access to Google Drive resources, potentially leading to data exfiltration, ransomware operations, or further compromise of the WordPress installation through lateral movement. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions suggests a systemic issue with the plugin's authorization framework that was not adequately addressed through the affected release cycle.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-863, which describes improper authorization conditions that allow actors to perform actions they should not be permitted to execute. The issue also maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1078 for valid accounts usage and T1566 for credential harvesting, as attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to Google Drive resources. Organizations using affected versions of the Integrate Google Drive plugin face significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential compliance violations, particularly in environments handling sensitive or regulated information.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate upgrading to the latest available version of the plugin where the authorization flaw has been addressed. Administrators must also implement additional monitoring controls to detect unusual access patterns or unauthorized attempts to interact with Google Drive integration features. Network-level controls such as firewall rules and access restrictions can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while regular security audits should verify that proper authorization mechanisms are functioning correctly. Organizations should also consider implementing principle of least privilege access controls for Google Drive integration, limiting the scope of permissions granted to WordPress users and the plugin itself to reduce the potential impact of such authorization bypasses.