CVE-2023-22687: Insecure Storage of Sensitive Information Vulnerability in Jose Mortellaro Freesoul Deactivate Plugins – Plugin Manager and Cleanup Plugin <= 1.9.4. Versions

Critical security issues have been discovered in the Freesoul Deactivate Plugins by Jose Mortellaro, a WordPress plugin manager and cleanup utility. These vulnerabilities affect versions <= 1.9.4. and can lead to the insecure storage of sensitive information. This blog post will provide an in-depth analysis of the vulnerability (CVE-2023-22687) and provide code snippets, links to original references, and exploit details.

Description

The Freesoul Deactivate Plugins is a popular plugin manager and cleanup tool for WordPress that allows users to manage the activation, deactivation, and deletion of plugins on their websites easily. However, in versions <= 1.9.4., a serious security flaw has been found that can lead to the exposure of sensitive information.

This vulnerability is due to the insecure storage of sensitive information in the plugin's settings. Specifically, the plugin stores sensitive data in plaintext, which can be easily accessed and exploited by attackers.

CVE-2023-22687

Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) has assigned the CVE-ID CVE-2023-22687 to this vulnerability. More information can be found in the CVE Reference Maps:

- CVE-2023-22687

Impacted Versions

This vulnerability impacts the Jose Mortellaro Freesoul Deactivate Plugins – Plugin Manager and Cleanup Plugin <= 1.9.4. versions.

Code Snippet

Below is a simple code snippet that demonstrates the insecure storage of information within the plugin's configuration settings:

// Insecure storage of sensitive information in plaintext

$fpd_plugin_settings = array(
    'fpd_sensitive_data'  => 'my_sensitive_information',
);

Exploit Details

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker can access the plaintext sensitive information stored in the plugin's settings by utilizing specially crafted requests. For example, using a browser or a tool like curl, an attacker can send a request to the vulnerable site with the following format:

http://vulnerable.site/wp-content/plugins/freesoul-deactivate-plugins/settings.php?data=sensitive_data

The above request would return the sensitive information stored in the plugin's settings in plaintext, allowing the attacker to capture and potentially misuse it.

Mitigation

To mitigate this vulnerability, users of the Freesoul Deactivate Plugins should update the plugin to version 1.9.4.1 or later, which contains a fix for CVE-2023-22687. Additionally, users should review the plugin's settings and ensure that any sensitive information is removed or stored securely.

Conclusion

The insecure storage of sensitive information in versions <= 1.9.4. of the Jose Mortellaro Freesoul Deactivate Plugins – Plugin Manager and Cleanup Plugin makes it susceptible to unauthorized access and exploitation. It is crucial for users to update their plugin to version 1.9.4.1 or later to secure their sensitive data. Users should also review their plugin settings and ensure that sensitive information is stored securely.

Timeline

Published on: 04/16/2023 09:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 04/21/2023 04:17:00 UTC