CVE-2023-23745

MainWP Boilerplate Extension <= 4.1 - Missing Authorization to Plugin Settings Change

2023-01-17 00:00
Dave Jong

Strategic Overview

Status
Patched in 4.1.1
Affected Version
<= 4.1
CVSS
6.4Medium
Weakness type
CWE-862 · Missing Authorization
CVE
CVE-2023-23745
View all MainWP Boilerplate Extension vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2023-23745 is a medium-severity Missing Authorization vulnerability in the MainWP Boilerplate Extension WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 4.1. It carries a CVSS score of 6.4 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). The root cause is a missing authorization check on a reachable function. The issue is fixed in version 4.1.1; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed January 2023, reported by Dave Jong.

Vulnerability Overview

The MainWP Boilerplate Extension plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authorization bypass in versions up to, and including, 4.1 due to a missing capability check. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level permissions and above, to change the plugin's settings.

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 interaction from a victim user.

CWE-862: Missing Authorization

Reaching this weakness in MainWP Boilerplate Extension <= 4.1 takes a caller who can reach the endpoint. A missing authorization check means a function is reachable by anyone who can reach the endpoint, because the code never asks whether the caller is allowed to perform the action.

Any user who can reach the endpoint gets to run an action reserved for higher-privileged roles, from reading protected data to changing settings or content. For MainWP Boilerplate Extension the fix is 4.1.1: builds <= 4.1 are affected, anything from 4.1.1 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 4.1.1, 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: MainWP Boilerplate Extension 4.1.1 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

  • Login Security
  • Alerts

External References

Related records

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