CVE-2023-6695 in Beaver Themer Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/09/2024
The Beaver Themer plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Sensitive Information Exposure in all versions up to, and including, 1.4.9 via the 'wpbb' shortcode. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor access and above, to extract sensitive data including arbitrary user_meta values.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6695 affects the Beaver Themer plugin for WordPress, a popular page builder tool that allows users to create custom themes and layouts. This security flaw exists in all versions up to and including 1.4.9, representing a significant risk to WordPress installations that utilize this plugin. The vulnerability stems from improper access controls within the plugin's implementation of the 'wpbb' shortcode functionality, which creates an avenue for unauthorized data extraction. The issue specifically targets authenticated attackers who possess contributor-level privileges or higher, making it particularly concerning as it can be exploited by users who should not have access to sensitive information. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in information security. Attackers with contributor access can leverage this flaw to extract arbitrary user_meta values, potentially gaining access to confidential personal information, authentication tokens, or other sensitive metadata associated with WordPress users. The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1213 technique for Data from Information Repositories, where adversaries attempt to access stored data through legitimate access points. The flaw demonstrates a critical oversight in the plugin's permission validation mechanisms, where the 'wpbb' shortcode does not properly verify whether the requesting user has appropriate authorization to access the requested metadata. This vulnerability impacts not only individual user privacy but also broader security posture of WordPress installations, as user_meta data often contains sensitive information that could be used for further attacks, including privilege escalation or social engineering campaigns.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the 'wpbb' shortcode parameter handling within the Beaver Themer plugin, where insufficient input validation and access control checks allow authenticated users to manipulate the shortcode parameters to retrieve user_meta data. The flaw specifically manifests when the shortcode is processed and the plugin fails to validate the requesting user's permissions against the metadata being accessed. This represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checking where the plugin assumes that any authenticated user with contributor privileges can access all available metadata. The vulnerability can be exploited through various methods including direct shortcode manipulation in posts or pages, or potentially through API calls if the shortcode functionality is exposed through API endpoints. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as user_meta values often contain configuration settings, personal preferences, and potentially sensitive information that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal privilege escalation and can be exploited through commonly used WordPress features, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to gather intelligence about users within the system. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental security misconfiguration where the plugin's access control model does not properly enforce data separation between different user roles, violating core security principles that should prevent users from accessing data beyond their intended scope.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-6695 extends far beyond immediate data exposure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to gather intelligence that can be used for targeted attacks, credential harvesting, or privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. When attackers can extract arbitrary user_meta values, they gain access to potentially sensitive information such as user preferences, login patterns, or other metadata that could be used to craft more convincing social engineering attacks. The vulnerability affects all WordPress installations using the affected plugin version, making it a widespread concern for site administrators who may not be aware of the specific risk. Organizations relying on WordPress for business operations face potential compliance violations, particularly in environments subject to data protection regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA, where unauthorized access to user data could result in significant legal and financial consequences. The vulnerability also impacts the overall security posture of WordPress ecosystems, as it demonstrates how third-party plugins can introduce security weaknesses that compromise the entire platform. Site administrators may not immediately recognize the scope of the vulnerability, as the exposure occurs through legitimate plugin functionality that appears normal to users, making detection and remediation more challenging. The exploitability of this vulnerability through contributor-level access means that even low-privilege accounts within WordPress can be leveraged to extract sensitive information, potentially allowing attackers to gather intelligence about user roles, permissions, and system configurations. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where contributor accounts may be shared or compromised, as the attacker can use this information to plan more sophisticated attacks or identify additional targets within the system.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2023-6695 include immediate patching of the Beaver Themer plugin to version 1.5.0 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. Site administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular monitoring of plugin updates, implementing role-based access controls, and conducting security audits of installed plugins. Organizations should consider disabling or removing the affected plugin if it is not essential to their operations, particularly in environments where security is paramount. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be implemented to detect unusual access patterns or data extraction attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive user access reviews to ensure that users with contributor privileges are not granted unnecessary access to sensitive data. The vulnerability highlights the importance of implementing proper input validation and access control mechanisms, particularly when handling user-provided data through shortcodes or other plugin features. Regular security assessments of WordPress installations should include checks for similar vulnerabilities in third-party plugins, as these often represent the most common attack vectors for WordPress-based systems. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management solutions to ensure that security updates are applied promptly and consistently across all WordPress installations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that protect against multiple attack vectors. Regular security training for administrators and users can help identify potential exploitation attempts and reduce the risk of successful attacks. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts targeting this type of vulnerability. The incident underscores the necessity of proper security testing and validation of plugin functionality before deployment, particularly when plugins handle sensitive data or user metadata.