CVE-2023-2546
Published: 06 June 2023
Summary
CVE-2023-2546 is a high-severity Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel (CWE-288) vulnerability in Wp User Switch Project Wp User Switch. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 11.0% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Deeper analysis
The WP User Switch plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authentication bypass in versions up to and including 1.0.2. The flaw stems from insufficient validation in the wpus_allow_user_to_admin_bar_menu function when processing the wpus_who_switch cookie value, allowing improper authentication checks that affect the plugin's user switching functionality.
Authenticated attackers holding subscriber-level access or higher can exploit the issue to assume the identity of any other user account on the site, including administrators, provided they know the target username. This enables full account takeover with the associated privileges, corresponding to a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 under CWE-288.
References indicate that a fix was applied in changeset 2921182 to the functions.php file in the plugin repository, with additional details available through Wordfence and Lana Codes advisories. The EPSS score reached a peak of 0.0588 before receding to the current value of 0.0421.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-34025
Vulnerability details
The WP User Switch plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authentication bypass in versions up to, and including, 1.0.2. This is due to incorrect authentication checking in the 'wpus_allow_user_to_admin_bar_menu' function with the 'wpus_who_switch' cookie value. This makes it possible for…
more
authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level permissions and above, to log in as any existing user on the site, such as an administrator, if they have access to the username.
- 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.
Authorizing remote access reduces the ability to bypass authentication via unauthorized alternate remote channels.
Users can identify logons via alternate paths or channels by reviewing the previous logon time.
Adaptive requirements can apply across access paths, reducing the ability to bypass authentication via alternate channels or paths.
Centralized IdPs close alternate authentication paths that enable bypass.
Enforces authentication for non-organizational users, making it harder to bypass via alternate paths or channels.
Requires authentication to occur exclusively over the isolated trusted path, directly preventing bypass via alternate or untrusted channels.