CVE-2023-2437
Published: 22 November 2023
Summary
CVE-2023-2437 is a critical-severity Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel (CWE-288) vulnerability in Userproplugin Userpro. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).
Operationally, ranked in the top 1.1% 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 UserPro plugin for WordPress, a commercial user-profile and social-login component sold through Codecanyon, contains an authentication-bypass flaw in all versions through 5.1.1. The root cause is insufficient verification of the identity supplied during Facebook-login handling, which maps directly to CWE-287 and CWE-288. The issue carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 9.8.
Unauthenticated attackers who possess a target user’s email address can exploit the flaw to obtain a valid session as that user, including site administrators. The advisory notes that the required email can be obtained by chaining CVE-2023-2448 and CVE-2023-2446, after which the attacker completes the Facebook login flow without further proof of identity. Exploitation requires only network access and no user interaction.
EPSS for the CVE currently stands at 0.7549 with a recorded peak of 0.7679, indicating sustained and moderately high exploitation interest since disclosure. No public evidence of widespread in-the-wild attacks has been reported in the supplied references.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-33922
Vulnerability details
The UserPro plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authentication bypass in versions up to, and including, 5.1.1. This is due to insufficient verification on the user being supplied during a Facebook login through the plugin. This makes it possible for…
more
unauthenticated attackers to log in as any existing user on the site, such as an administrator, if they have access to the email. An attacker can leverage CVE-2023-2448 and CVE-2023-2446 to get the user's email address to successfully exploit this vulnerability.
- 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.
Detects unauthorized successful logons resulting from improper authentication implementations.
Requires adaptive authentication under specific conditions, directly strengthening authentication mechanisms against improper or insufficient authentication.
Identity providers centralize and enforce authentication mechanisms, reducing improper authentication.
Mandates unique identification and authentication of non-organizational users, directly mitigating improper authentication.
Authorizing remote access reduces the ability to bypass authentication via unauthorized alternate remote channels.
Documented procedures ensure personnel are trained on authentication mechanisms, tangibly lowering the risk of improper authentication being exploited.
Security awareness training instructs users on secure authentication practices and avoiding credential compromise.
Training on authentication mechanisms and best practices decreases the occurrence of improper authentication.