CVE-2023-6962 in WP Meta SEO Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/02/2024
The WP Meta SEO plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Sensitive Information Exposure in all versions up to, and including, 4.5.12 via the meta description. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to disclose potentially sensitive information via the meta description of password-protected posts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2025
The WP Meta SEO plugin for WordPress presents a critical sensitive information exposure vulnerability that affects all versions up to and including 4.5.12. This vulnerability specifically targets the meta description functionality and allows unauthenticated attackers to access potentially sensitive information from password-protected posts. The flaw exists within the plugin's handling of meta description data, where it fails to properly restrict access to content that should remain protected. This represents a significant security gap in WordPress's ecosystem as it undermines the fundamental security measures that protect sensitive content from unauthorized access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate access controls within the plugin's meta description generation and retrieval mechanisms. When password-protected posts are processed through the WP Meta SEO plugin, the system does not properly verify user authentication status before exposing meta description data. This creates an information disclosure scenario where attackers can bypass standard WordPress access controls and obtain metadata that should remain restricted. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically affects the plugin's handling of post meta information, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages legitimate plugin functionality to expose protected content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure and creates potential risks for organizations relying on WordPress for content management. Attackers can exploit this flaw to gather information about protected posts, potentially including sensitive business data, internal communications, or proprietary content that was intended to remain private. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that no prior access credentials are required, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by anyone with access to the affected website. This exposure could lead to competitive intelligence theft, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage for organizations using vulnerable versions of the plugin.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including upgrading to the latest version of the WP Meta SEO plugin where the issue has been resolved. System administrators should also consider implementing additional access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect unauthorized access attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a failure in access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving information gathering and credential access, potentially enabling further attacks through the exposure of protected content. Regular security audits and plugin vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in other WordPress components and ensure comprehensive protection against information disclosure threats.