Password Reset with Code for WordPress REST API <= 0.0.15 - Weak Password Recovery Mechanism
Strategic Overview
- Status
- Patched in 0.0.16
- Affected Plugin
- Password Reset with Code for WordPress REST API
- Affected Version
<= 0.0.15- CVSS
- 9.8Critical
- Weakness type
- CWE-640 · Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password
- CVE
CVE-2023-35039
At a glance
CVE-2023-35039 is a critical-severity Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password vulnerability in the Password Reset with Code for WordPress REST API WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 0.0.15. It carries a CVSS score of 9.8 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high confidentiality, integrity, availability impact). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 0.0.16; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed August 2023, reported by Jonas Höbenreich.
Vulnerability Overview
The Password Reset with Code for WordPress REST API is vulnerable to a Weak Password Recovery Mechanism in versions up to, and including, 0.0.15. This allows unauthenticated attackers to set a 4-digit password recovery code for arbitrary users that, if guessed correctly, will allow them to reset the password for that user. Although each code is only allowed 3 tries by default, there is no restriction on the number of code generation attempts allowed, effectively reducing the entropy of the password reset mechanism to 4 digits. Additionally the code generation mechanism uses str_shuffle which does not use a cryptographically secure PNRG.
Technical Analysis
The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user. A successful exploit has high impact on confidentiality, integrity, availability — full site compromise territory.
CWE-640: Weak Password Recovery Mechanism for Forgotten Password
Reaching this weakness in Password Reset with Code for WordPress REST API <= 0.0.15 takes a caller who can reach the endpoint. A weak password recovery mechanism means the path that lets someone back into an account without their password is easier to complete than the password itself.
An attacker takes over an account through the recovery flow without ever seeing the password, and on an administrator account that is full control of the site. For Password Reset with Code for WordPress REST API the fix is 0.0.16: builds <= 0.0.15 are affected, anything from 0.0.16 onward is not.
Remediation
Update to version 0.0.16, or a newer patched version
How does WordSec protect against this?
Because it turns on account access, WordSec's login security is the relevant layer: role-based two-factor, captcha and brute-force limits raise the cost of getting the account this needs. None of that substitutes for the fix: Password Reset with Code for WordPress REST API 0.0.16 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.
- Login Security
- Alerts
External References
Related records
Other vulnerabilities in Password Reset with Code for WordPress REST API
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