CVE-2023-6742 in Envira Gallery Lite Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/11/2024
The Gallery Plugin for WordPress – Envira Photo Gallery plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to an improper capability check on the 'envira_gallery_insert_images' function in all versions up to, and including, 1.8.7.1. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with contributor access and above, to modify galleries on other users' posts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6742 affects the Envira Photo Gallery plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 1.8.7.1. This issue represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of WordPress gallery management systems. The vulnerability stems from an insufficient capability verification mechanism within the plugin's core functionality, creating a pathway for unauthorized data manipulation that directly impacts user data integrity and privacy.
The technical flaw manifests through the 'envira_gallery_insert_images' function which fails to properly validate user permissions before allowing gallery modification operations. This function operates without adequate checks to ensure that the requesting user has legitimate authorization to modify galleries associated with posts they do not own. The improper capability check creates a privilege escalation vector where users with contributor-level access or higher can exploit this weakness to manipulate gallery content on posts belonging to other users. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor access control implementation within the plugin's architecture.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to WordPress site administrators and content creators who rely on the plugin for gallery management. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges can silently modify gallery content, potentially inserting malicious media files, removing legitimate content, or altering gallery configurations without detection. The impact extends beyond simple data modification as it can compromise the integrity of user-generated content, potentially leading to reputational damage, content theft, or even the introduction of malware through manipulated gallery elements. The vulnerability affects all users who can access the WordPress admin panel and have contributor-level permissions, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments.
The security implications of CVE-2023-6742 align with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems. This classification emphasizes the fundamental flaw in access control mechanisms that allows unauthorized users to perform actions beyond their intended permissions. Additionally, this vulnerability can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and privilege escalation, as it exploits legitimate user credentials to gain elevated access to gallery modification functions. The attack vector requires minimal privileges but can result in substantial data integrity violations, making it a particularly concerning security weakness in content management systems.
Mitigation strategies should begin with immediate plugin updates to versions that address this authorization flaw, as developers have likely released patches to correct the improper capability checks. Site administrators should implement comprehensive user permission reviews to ensure that contributor-level accounts have appropriate restrictions on gallery modification capabilities. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual gallery modification patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security audits for WordPress plugins, particularly those handling media content and user-generated galleries. Organizations should consider implementing additional access controls and logging mechanisms to track gallery modification activities across all user accounts, ensuring that any unauthorized attempts to modify other users' gallery content are promptly detected and investigated.