CVE-2023-6226 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article provides insights into CVE-2023-6226, focusing on the WP Shortcodes Plugin — Shortcodes Ultimate vulnerability in WordPress.

Understanding CVE-2023-6226

CVE-2023-6226 highlights a vulnerability in the WP Shortcodes Plugin — Shortcodes Ultimate for WordPress, where an insecure direct object reference is present in versions up to and including 5.13.3. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level access and above to retrieve arbitrary post meta values, potentially exposing sensitive information.

What is CVE-2023-6226?

CVE-2023-6226 is a vulnerability in the WP Shortcodes Plugin — Shortcodes Ultimate in WordPress, allowing authenticated attackers to access sensitive information via an insecure direct object reference in the su_meta shortcode.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6226

This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive post meta values, posing a risk to data confidentiality and integrity. Attackers with contributor-level access and above can exploit this vulnerability, potentially leading to data breaches and privacy violations.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6226

The following technical details outline the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the WP Shortcodes Plugin — Shortcodes Ultimate arises from inadequate validation on user-controlled keys 'key' and 'post_id' in the su_meta shortcode, enabling attackers to access arbitrary post meta values.

Affected Systems and Versions

The WP Shortcodes Plugin — Shortcodes Ultimate versions up to and including 5.13.3 are susceptible to this vulnerability. Users of these versions are at risk of exploitation by authenticated attackers with contributor-level access and above.

Exploitation Mechanism

Authenticated attackers can leverage the lack of validation on key parameters in the su_meta shortcode to access post meta values, potentially containing sensitive information when combined with other plugins.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-6226, consider the following mitigation strategies and preventive measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the WP Shortcodes Plugin — Shortcodes Ultimate to a version beyond 5.13.3 to patch the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor for security updates and apply patches promptly to prevent exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement least privilege access controls to limit user permissions and mitigate the impact of potential vulnerabilities.
Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments to identify and address security gaps proactively.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by the plugin developer to address known vulnerabilities and enhance overall security posture. Regularly check for new releases and apply updates to stay protected against emerging threats.