CVE-2023-1669
Published: 02 May 2023
Summary
CVE-2023-1669 is a high-severity Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502) vulnerability in Seopress Seopress. Its CVSS base score is 7.2 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 9.5% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis
The SEOPress WordPress plugin before version 6.5.0.3 contains a deserialization flaw tracked as CVE-2023-1669. The component accepts user-supplied settings data and passes it directly to PHP’s unserialize function without validation, enabling PHP Object Injection when a suitable gadget chain exists in the loaded environment. The issue is classified under CWE-502 and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.2.
An authenticated administrator or other high-privilege user can supply a crafted serialized payload through the plugin’s settings interface. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to instantiate arbitrary objects, which may result in remote code execution, file manipulation, or privilege escalation depending on available gadgets.
Public references point to WPScan advisories that document the affected versions and confirm the availability of a fixed release. The current EPSS score stands at 0.0559 after having risen to a peak of 0.2036, indicating a period of increased exploitation interest following disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-23897
Vulnerability details
The SEOPress WordPress plugin before 6.5.0.3 unserializes user input provided via the settings, which could allow high-privilege users such as admin to perform PHP Object Injection when a suitable gadget is present.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Penetration testing supplies malicious serialized objects, detecting unsafe deserialization and supporting corrective actions.
Evaluation of untrusted data handling (deserialization testing) reveals unsafe processing, which the required remediation process addresses.
Untrusted serialized data can be deserialized and observed inside the chamber, blocking gadget-chain exploitation outside the sandbox.
Validates or rejects untrusted serialized data before deserialization occurs.
Identifies and blocks malicious code introduced through deserialization of untrusted data at system boundaries.
Integrity verification of serialized information can detect tampering before deserialization occurs.
Provenance of associated data allows detection of untrusted sources before deserialization or processing occurs.