CVE-2023-0581

PrivateContent <= 8.4.3 - Protection Mechanism Bypass

2023-01-30 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 8.4.4
Affected Plugin: PrivateContent
Affected Version: <= 8.4.3
CVSS: 5.3Medium
Weakness type: CWE-602 · Client-Side Enforcement of Server-Side Security
CVE: CVE-2023-0581

At a glance

CVE-2023-0581 is a medium-severity Client-Side Enforcement of Server-Side Security vulnerability in the PrivateContent WordPress plugin, affecting versions <= 8.4.3. It carries a CVSS score of 5.3 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 8.4.4; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed January 2023, reported by Riccardo Granata.

Vulnerability Overview

The PrivateContent plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to protection mechanism bypass due to the use of client side validation in versions up to, and including, 8.4.3. This is due to the plugin checking if an IP had been blocklist via client-side scripts rather than server-side. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to bypass any login restrictions that may prevent a brute force attack.

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.

CWE-602: Client-Side Enforcement of Server-Side Security

The product is composed of a server that relies on the client to implement a mechanism that is intended to protect the server.

Remediation

Update to version 8.4.4, 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: PrivateContent 8.4.4 closes this, and updating the plugin is the step that ends it.

Login Security
Alerts

External References

https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-0581 https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/de73304e-7a28-4304-b1ed-2f6dd7738236 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-0581

Related records

Other vulnerabilities in PrivateContent

CVSS Vector

5.3

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

Base

Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredNone
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityLow
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityNone

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