CVE-2023-6985
Published: 05 February 2024
Summary
CVE-2023-6985 is a medium-severity Missing Authorization (CWE-862) vulnerability in 10Web Ai Assistant. Its CVSS base score is 6.5 (Medium).
Operationally, ranked in the top 7.9% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
This vulnerability is AI-related — categorised as Other AI Platforms.
Deeper analysis
The 10Web AI Assistant plugin for WordPress is affected by an authorization vulnerability (CWE-862) in all versions through 1.0.18. The root cause is a missing capability check on the install_plugin AJAX action, which permits unauthorized modification of site data. The issue carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 6.5 with network attack vector and low-privilege requirements.
Authenticated attackers holding subscriber-level access or higher can invoke the unprotected AJAX handler to install arbitrary plugins. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to introduce additional code that may lead to further site compromise, such as privilege escalation or persistent access.
Public references from Wordfence and the WordPress plugin repository point to changeset 3027004, which addresses the missing authorization check in the plugin’s main file. Site administrators should apply the available plugin update to remediate the flaw.
EPSS values have remained essentially flat near 0.078 with no material increase after disclosure.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-59177
Vulnerability details
The 10Web AI Assistant – AI content writing assistant plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized modification of data due to a missing capability check on the install_plugin AJAX action in all versions up to, and including, 1.0.18. This makes…
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it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level access and above, to install arbitrary plugins that can be used to gain further access to a compromised site.
- CWE(s)
AI Security AnalysisAI
- AI Category
- Other AI Platforms
- Risk Domain
- N/A
- OWASP Top 10 for LLMs 2025
- None mapped
- Classification Reason
- Matched keywords: ai, ai
Related Threats
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.
Requiring an access control policy ensures authorization checks are defined and applied for critical functions.
Reviews of access controls detect missing authorization checks on critical functions or resources.
Documenting permitted unauthenticated actions prevents missing authorization by making all exceptions explicit and subject to organizational review.
Requiring attribute association with information prevents authorization from being performed without necessary security or privacy context.
Mandating authorization prior to allowing remote connections addresses missing authorization for remote access.
Mandating authorization before wireless connections are allowed prevents missing authorization for wireless access.
The control requires authorization before allowing mobile device connections, directly mitigating missing authorization for system access.
Requiring approvals for account creation and specifying authorizations ensures authorization is not missing for system access.