CVE-2023-1026 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-1026 was published by Wordfence on February 28, 2023. The vulnerability affects the WP Meta SEO plugin for WordPress, allowing unauthorized access to data due to a missing capability check on the listPostsCategory function in versions up to, and including, 4.5.3.

Understanding CVE-2023-1026

The vulnerability in CVE-2023-1026, discovered by Marco Wotschka, poses a risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data within the affected plugin.

What is CVE-2023-1026?

The WP Meta SEO plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized data access as a result of missing capability checks, enabling attackers with subscriber-level access to retrieve post listings by category, as long as the posts are published.

The Impact of CVE-2023-1026

This vulnerability results from the plugin's reliance on nonce checks for access control, where the nonce is accessible to all authenticated users, irrespective of their role. Attackers with malicious intent could exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-1026

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-862 Missing Authorization with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.3, categorizing it as a medium severity issue.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the WP Meta SEO plugin allows authenticated attackers with limited access to retrieve post listings by category, potentially compromising sensitive data.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions up to, and including, 4.5.3 of the WP Meta SEO plugin for WordPress are affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises from the lack of capability checks in the listPostsCategory function, enabling attackers to access post listings by category without proper authorization.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-1026 and ensure long-term security practices are in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should update the WP Meta SEO plugin to version 4.5.4 or later to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, restricting access to sensitive data based on user roles can help prevent unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regular security audits, ongoing monitoring, and implementing least privilege access controls can enhance the overall security posture of WordPress plugins and prevent future vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Staying informed about security updates for plugins and promptly applying patches released by the plugin developers is essential to maintain a secure WordPress environment. Regularly updating plugins to the latest versions can help address known vulnerabilities and strengthen the website's security posture.