CVE-2023-5843
Published: 30 October 2023
Summary
CVE-2023-5843 is a critical-severity Code Injection (CWE-94) vulnerability in Datafeedr Ads By Datafeedr.Com. Its CVSS base score is 9.0 (Critical).
Operationally, ranked in the top 7.0% 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 Ads by datafeedr.com plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to remote code execution in versions up to and including 1.1.3 through the dfads_ajax_load_ads function. This flaw permits unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code on the server, although the callable function parameters are restricted and cannot be specified freely. The issue carries a CVSS score of 9.0, reflecting its high severity due to network attack vector and potential for complete confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts.
Unauthenticated remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability by invoking the affected AJAX handler, achieving code execution on the WordPress server hosting the plugin. This could lead to full compromise of the affected site, including data theft or further lateral movement within the hosting environment.
Advisories from Wordfence and the plugin's changelog indicate that the vulnerability has been addressed in a subsequent release, with a changeset available on the WordPress plugin repository detailing the fix. Site administrators are advised to update the plugin to the latest version to mitigate the risk.
The EPSS score remains low at approximately 0.09 with minimal fluctuation, suggesting limited observed exploitation activity following disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-58124
Vulnerability details
The Ads by datafeedr.com plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Remote Code Execution in versions up to, and including, 1.1.3 via the 'dfads_ajax_load_ads' function. This allows unauthenticated attackers to execute code on the server. The parameters of the callable function…
more
are limited, they cannot be specified arbitrarily.
- 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.
Makes persistent code injection into loaded programs impossible when the executable image itself resides on hardware-protected read-only media.
Dynamically generated code can be produced and executed inside the isolated chamber, preventing host compromise from code-injection payloads.
Validates inputs used in dynamic code generation to block injected directives.
Directly prevents execution of attacker-supplied code written into data memory regions.