CVE-2023-2446 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-2446, focusing on the vulnerability found in the UserPro - Community and User Profile WordPress Plugin.

Understanding CVE-2023-2446

CVE-2023-2446 is a vulnerability identified in the UserPro plugin for WordPress, allowing for sensitive information disclosure through the 'userpro' shortcode in versions up to and including 5.1.1. This vulnerability arises due to inadequate restrictions on sensitive user meta values accessible via the mentioned shortcode. Attackers with authenticated subscriber-level permissions and above can exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive user meta data, potentially leading to unauthorized access to high-privileged user accounts.

What is CVE-2023-2446?

The CVE-2023-2446 vulnerability in the UserPro WordPress plugin exposes sensitive user information through the 'userpro' shortcode, enabling attackers to retrieve valuable data and potentially compromise user accounts.

The Impact of CVE-2023-2446

The impact of CVE-2023-2446 revolves around the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive user meta data, posing a risk of security breaches and unauthorized access to high-privileged user accounts within the affected WordPress plugin.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-2446

The technical details of CVE-2023-2446 shed light on the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanisms.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the UserPro plugin allows authenticated attackers with specific user permissions to access sensitive user meta data through the 'userpro' shortcode, leading to potential security risks and unauthorized access to user accounts.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected system is the UserPro - Community and User Profile WordPress Plugin, specifically versions up to and including 5.1.1. Users utilizing these versions are vulnerable to the CVE-2023-2446 security flaw.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting CVE-2023-2446 involves leveraging the 'userpro' shortcode in the UserPro plugin to access and retrieve sensitive user meta data, enabling attackers to gain insights into high-privileged user accounts.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-2446, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates are essential.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users of the UserPro plugin should immediately update to a patched version, ensure restricted access permissions, monitor user activities, and implement additional security measures to prevent unauthorized access and data leakage.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust security practices, conducting regular security audits, staying informed about vulnerabilities, and educating users on best security practices are crucial for enhancing the overall security posture and resilience against potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying patches and updates provided by the plugin developer, maintaining an up-to-date software environment, and promptly addressing security advisories are essential steps to safeguard against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-2446.