CVE-2023-46639: Missing Authorization Vulnerability in FeedbackWP's kk Star Ratings Plugin Leads to Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels

In today's post, we will dive deep into a newly discovered security vulnerability, CVE-2023-46639, that affects the popular WordPress plugin—kk Star Ratings. This plugin, developed by FeedbackWP, allows users to rate posts and pages using a star rating system. However, when a vulnerability like this exists, the consequences can be severe, leading to unauthorized access, manipulation, and even deletion of data.

The vulnerability we are discussing is a Missing Authorization issue that impacts versions up to and including 5.4.5. This problem arises due to incorrectly configured access control security levels, which can be easily exploited by malicious users. We will go over the details of this vulnerability, provide a code snippet demonstrating the exploit, and offer links to the original references for further information.

Vulnerability Description

This security issue, known as a Missing Authorization vulnerability, is caused by improper implementation of user access control mechanisms within the kk Star Ratings plugin. In essence, certain features and functions are exposed without requiring proper authentication or authorization checks.

Such a vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access to the affected website or tamper with its functionality. As a result, sensitive data could be stolen or modified, and website owners could suffer reputational damage or legal liability.

To better understand the exploit, let's take a look at a code snippet that demonstrates the problem

// Code snippet demonstrating the missing authorization vulnerability
function save_rating() {
    global $wpdb;
    
    // The authorization check should be performed here, but it's missing
    // ...
    
    // Performing the save action
    $wpdb->insert(
        $wpdb->prefix . "ratings",
        array(
            'post_id' => $_POST['post_id'],
            'rating' => $_POST['rating'],
            'user_ip' => $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'],
            'date' => date("Y-m-d H:i:s")
        )
    );
    
    // Return success status
    echo json_encode(array('status' => 'success'));
    exit();
}

As we can see, the function save_rating() is responsible for adding new ratings, but it does not implement proper authorization checks. An attacker could use this oversight to insert ratings on behalf of other users or even alter existing ratings.

Here’s a sample HTTP request a malicious user could send to exploit the vulnerability

POST /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php HTTP/1.1
Host: target-website.com
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded; charset=UTF-8
X-Requested-With: XMLHttpRequest

action=save_rating&post_id=12345&rating=5

For more information about this vulnerability, you can consult the following sources

1. CVE-2023-46639 - The official CVE record for this vulnerability.
2. National Vulnerability Database - CVE-2023-46639 - The NIST's National Vulnerability Database entry for this issue.
3. FeedbackWP - kk Star Ratings GitHub Repository - The official GitHub repository for the plugin, where the issue was reported and fixed.

How to Remediate

The best way to remediate this vulnerability is to update your kk Star Ratings plugin to the latest available version. The plugin's developers have addressed this issue in subsequent releases, so upgrading should be sufficient to protect your site from this exploit. If your version is lower than 5.4.5, you are at risk and should update the plugin immediately.

In conclusion, the CVE-2023-46639 vulnerability in the kk Star Ratings plugin serves as a crucial reminder to always stay up-to-date with the latest security patches and releases for your WordPress plugins. Continuously monitoring your site for any potential risks is essential to ensure your visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Timeline

Published on: 01/02/2025 12:15:14 UTC