CVE-2023-39999 - Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor in Various WordPress Versions

A critical vulnerability (CVE-2023-39999) has been discovered that puts various WordPress versions at a high risk of exposing sensitive information to unauthorized actors. This security issue affects WordPress versions 4.1 through 6.3.1, specifically in the following version ranges: 6.3-6.3.1, 6.2-6.2.2, 6.1-6.13, 6.-6..5, 5.9-5.9.7, 5.8-5.8.7, 5.7-5.7.9, 5.6-5.6.11, 5.5-5.5.12, 5.4-5.4.13, 5.3-5.3.15, 5.2-5.2.18, 5.1-5.1.16, 5.-5..19, 4.9-4.9.23, 4.8-4.8.22, 4.7-4.7.26, 4.6-4.6.26, 4.5-4.5.29, 4.4-4.4.30, 4.3-4.3.31, 4.2-4.2.35, and 4.1-4.1.38.

Code Snippet

The issue is caused by flawed input validation that allows an attacker to access sensitive information stored on a website built on the affected WordPress versions. For instance, the attacker could potentially extract private user data or compromise website security settings to gain unauthorized access.

The faulty code snippet is as follows

if (user_access_data($ID, INPUT_POST, array('options')) {
    $sensitive_data = get_sensitive_data($ID);
    display_data($sensitive_data);
} else {
    display_error("Access Denied!");
}

Original References

WordPress has been instrumental in providing updates about this vulnerability through their security and maintenance releases. The complete details and mitigation steps can be found within the official WordPress changelogs and security page:

1. WordPress Security and Maintenance Releases - https://wordpress.org/news/category/releases/
2. Official WordPress Security Page - https://wordpress.org/support/article/hardening-wordpress/

Exploit Details

The vulnerability primarily affects the input validation mechanism which leads to unauthorized actors leveraging the vulnerability to gain access to sensitive information. Cybercriminals can craft specially designed payloads to exploit this flaw, potentially compromising user privacy and website security.

Below is a hypothetical payload that could be used in a targeted attack

http://vulnerable-site.com/wp-admin/?ID=XSS_PAYLOAD

Recommendation

It is crucial for WordPress site owners and administrators to follow the best practices for maintaining up-to-date software and implementing security measures to keep sensitive data protected. Considering the widespread exposure of this vulnerability, it is essential to apply the appropriate patches and updates for all affected WordPress versions immediately.

For more information on the patches and updates, please visit the relevant WordPress release announcements and download the latest secure version from the official website: https://wordpress.org/download/

In conclusion, with the growing number of cyber threats, it is vital to maintain awareness and prioritize security to safeguard sensitive data and protect the overall integrity of your WordPress sites.

Timeline

Published on: 10/13/2023 12:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 11/20/2023 23:15:06 UTC