CVE-2023-23823
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a Missing Authorization vulnerability in the Clever Widgets Enhanced Text Widget WordPress plugin. It allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access controls, potentially modifying widget content without proper permissions. This affects all WordPress sites using Enhanced Text Widget versions up to 1.5.8.
💻 Affected Systems
- Clever Widgets Enhanced Text Widget WordPress Plugin
⚠️ Manual Verification Required
This CVE does not have specific version information in our database, so automatic vulnerability detection cannot determine if your system is affected.
Why? The CVE database entry doesn't specify which versions are vulnerable (no version ranges provided by the vendor/NVD).
🔒 Custom verification scripts are available for registered users. Sign up free to download automated test scripts.
- Review the CVE details at NVD
- Check vendor security advisories for your specific version
- Test if the vulnerability is exploitable in your environment
- Consider updating to the latest version as a precaution
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Unauthorized users could modify widget content across the site, potentially injecting malicious scripts, defacing pages, or redirecting users to malicious sites.
Likely Case
Low-privileged users or attackers could modify text widget content to display unauthorized messages or links, compromising site integrity.
If Mitigated
With proper user role management and access controls, only authorized administrators can modify widgets, limiting impact.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires some level of user access but bypasses intended authorization checks.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.5.9
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Enhanced Text Widget' and click 'Update Now'. 4. Alternatively, download version 1.5.9+ from WordPress repository and replace plugin files.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Enhanced Text Widget Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched.
wp plugin deactivate enhanced-text-widget
Restrict User Roles
allLimit user accounts with widget editing capabilities to trusted administrators only.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove the Enhanced Text Widget plugin entirely and use alternative text widgets.
- Implement web application firewall rules to block unauthorized widget modification requests.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Enhanced Text Widget version. If version is 1.5.8 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get enhanced-text-widget --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is 1.5.9 or higher in WordPress admin plugins page.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized POST requests to widget update endpoints
- User role mismatches in widget modification logs
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected widget content changes without admin user activity
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("widget" AND "update" AND NOT user_role="administrator")