CVE-2019-14793

Meta Box - WordPress Custom Fields Framework <= 4.16.2 - File Deletion via attachment_id Parameter

2019-02-02 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 4.16.3
Affected Plugin: Meta Box – A Framework for Dynamic Websites
Affected Version: < 4.16.3
CVSS: 8.1High
Weakness type: CWE-862 · Missing Authorization
CVE: CVE-2019-14793

View all Meta Box – A Framework for Dynamic Websites vulnerabilities

At a glance

CVE-2019-14793 is a high-severity Missing Authorization vulnerability in the Meta Box WordPress plugin, affecting versions < 4.16.3. It carries a CVSS score of 8.1 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity; high integrity, availability impact). The issue is fixed in version 4.16.3; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed February 2019.

Vulnerability Overview

The Meta Box plugin before 4.16.3 for WordPress allows file deletion via ajax, with the wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=rwmb_delete_file attachment_id parameter.

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. A successful exploit has high impact on integrity, availability.

CWE-862: Missing Authorization

Reaching this weakness in Meta Box < 4.16.3 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 Meta Box the fix is 4.16.3: builds < 4.16.3 are affected, anything from 4.16.3 onward is not.

Remediation

Update to version 4.16.3, 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: Meta Box 4.16.3 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

Login Security
Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-14793 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/8341c7fb-6f3f-45ee-86c3-9c9d2617594a https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-14793

Related records

Same weakness class

4.3CVE-2024-43235: Meta Box Information ExposureCVE-2024-43235

Other vulnerabilities in Meta Box – A Framework for Dynamic Websites

CVSS Vector

8.1

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

Base

Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredLow
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh

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