CVE-2023-5425 in Post Meta Data Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2023
The Post Meta Data Manager plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the pmdm_wp_change_user_meta and pmdm_wp_change_post_meta functions in versions up to, and including, 1.2.0. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level permissions and above, to gain elevated (e.g., administrator) privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5425 affects the Post Meta Data Manager plugin for WordPress, representing a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of the content management system. This issue stems from insufficient access control mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, specifically targeting two core functions: pmdm_wp_change_user_meta and pmdm_wp_change_post_meta. The flaw allows attackers with minimal privileges to exploit the system's trust model and escalate their privileges within the WordPress environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic missing capability check pattern that aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues. The plugin fails to verify whether the requesting user possesses the necessary permissions to modify user or post metadata, creating an unauthorized privilege escalation vector. This vulnerability operates at the application level within the WordPress framework, where the plugin's functions do not properly validate the user's capabilities before executing modification operations. The affected versions include all releases up to and including 1.2.0, indicating a widespread exposure across the plugin's user base.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification, as it provides authenticated attackers with the ability to gain elevated privileges within the WordPress installation. Attackers with subscriber-level permissions or higher can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary modifications to user metadata, potentially enabling them to elevate their access rights to administrator level. This privilege escalation capability transforms a simple data modification vulnerability into a severe security risk that could compromise the entire WordPress installation. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal prerequisites, as it only necessitates an existing user account with subscriber permissions or higher, making it particularly dangerous in environments where user accounts are widely distributed.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and credential access. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it operates within the legitimate plugin functionality, making detection more challenging for security monitoring systems. Organizations using the affected plugin versions face significant risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data and potential full system compromise. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that WordPress installations often contain sensitive user information, configuration data, and business-critical content that could be accessed or modified by attackers exploiting this flaw.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-5425 require immediate action from affected organizations, including updating to the latest plugin version where the capability checks have been properly implemented. Security administrators should also implement additional monitoring for unusual metadata modification activities and review user permissions regularly to minimize the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and capability checks within WordPress plugins, emphasizing the need for developers to follow secure coding practices that prevent unauthorized privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls and access restrictions to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, particularly in multi-user environments where privilege escalation could lead to complete system compromise.