CVE-2023-4686 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE record was published by Wordfence on November 22, 2023, revealing a vulnerability in the WP Customer Reviews plugin for WordPress.

Understanding CVE-2023-4686

This vulnerability exposes sensitive information in versions up to and including 3.6.6 of the WP Customer Reviews plugin through the

ajax_enabled_posts

function. Attackers with authentication can extract sensitive data like post titles, slugs, and other details from protected or trashed posts and pages, as well as other post types like galleries.

What is CVE-2023-4686?

CVE-2023-4686 pertains to Sensitive Information Exposure vulnerability in the WP Customer Reviews plugin, allowing authenticated attackers to retrieve confidential data.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4686

The impact of this CVE lies in the potential unauthorized access to sensitive information, compromising the confidentiality of post-related data within the affected versions of the plugin.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4686

The technical aspects of this CVE include details on the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The WP Customer Reviews plugin vulnerability enables attackers to extract sensitive information from posts, including protected and trashed posts, using the

ajax_enabled_posts

function.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions up to and including 3.6.6 of the WP Customer Reviews plugin are impacted by this vulnerability. Any system with these versions installed is at risk of sensitive data exposure.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit this vulnerability by leveraging the

ajax_enabled_posts

function to extract confidential data from posts and pages handled by the WP Customer Reviews plugin.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-4686, immediate steps can be taken to mitigate the risk and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should consider disabling the WP Customer Reviews plugin until a patch is available to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring for any unauthorized access to sensitive data is crucial.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strong access controls and regularly updating plugins and themes can help enhance the overall security posture of WordPress websites, reducing the likelihood of similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Users of the WP Customer Reviews plugin should closely monitor updates from the vendor and apply any patches released to address the Sensitive Information Exposure vulnerability in versions up to 3.6.6. Keeping all software components up-to-date is essential for maintaining a secure WordPress environment.