CVE-2023-5713 in System Dashboard Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/07/2023
The System Dashboard plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized access of data due to a missing capability check on the sd_option_value() function hooked via an AJAX action in all versions up to, and including, 2.8.7. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to retrieve potentially sensitive option values, and deserialize the content of those values.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5713 affects the System Dashboard plugin for WordPress, a widely used administrative tool that provides monitoring and management capabilities for wordpress installations. This plugin has been found to contain a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of the wordpress platform. The vulnerability stems from a missing capability check within the sd_option_value() function, which is registered as an AJAX action handler. This function operates without proper authentication verification, creating an exploitable entry point that allows unauthorized data access. The flaw exists across all versions of the plugin up to and including version 2.8.7, making it a significant concern for wordpress administrators who have not yet updated their installations. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's AJAX endpoint mechanism, which is commonly used for dynamic content loading and administrative functions within wordpress environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the sd_option_value() function being improperly exposed through the wordpress ajax system without adequate permission validation. When an authenticated user with subscriber-level access or higher makes a request to the plugin's ajax endpoint, the function processes the request without verifying whether the user possesses the necessary administrative privileges to access the targeted option values. This missing capability check represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the plugin's access control implementation. The vulnerability allows attackers to deserialize and retrieve potentially sensitive configuration data, which may include database connection details, API keys, or other administrative credentials that could be leveraged for further compromise. The deserialization process adds additional risk as it can potentially lead to remote code execution if the serialized data contains malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with access to potentially sensitive administrative configuration data that could be used for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the wordpress environment. An attacker with subscriber-level access can exploit this vulnerability to gather intelligence about the system configuration, which may reveal the presence of other security controls or help identify additional attack vectors. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the wordpress security model by allowing users with minimal privileges to access data that should only be available to administrators or users with explicit permissions. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user wordpress environments where different users have varying levels of access, as it creates a potential pathway for lower-privilege users to gain access to sensitive system information. The impact is further amplified because the vulnerability affects all versions up to 2.8.7, meaning that a significant number of wordpress installations could be exposed to this risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-5713 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the missing capability check in the sd_option_value() function. Administrators should also implement network-level restrictions to limit access to the plugin's ajax endpoints and consider implementing additional authentication layers or access controls for wordpress administrative functions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1213.002 for data from information repositories, as it involves unauthorized access to stored administrative data. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual ajax requests to the affected plugin endpoints and implementation of automated patch management processes to ensure timely updates. Organizations should also conduct security audits to identify other plugins with similar access control vulnerabilities and establish regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify and remediate such issues before they can be exploited by threat actors.