CVE-2023-2833
📋 TL;DR
The ReviewX WordPress plugin up to version 1.6.13 contains a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows authenticated users with minimal permissions (like subscribers) to elevate their privileges to administrator or other roles. This occurs due to insufficient restrictions in the 'rx_set_screen_options' function, allowing attackers to modify their user role via screen option parameters. WordPress sites using vulnerable ReviewX plugin versions are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- WordPress ReviewX Plugin
📦 What is this software?
Reviewx by Wpdeveloper
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker gains full administrative access to the WordPress site, enabling complete site takeover, data theft, malware injection, or site defacement.
Likely Case
Attackers elevate privileges to administrator level and install backdoors, create new admin accounts, or modify site content.
If Mitigated
With proper access controls and monitoring, impact is limited to unauthorized role changes that can be detected and reversed before significant damage.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires authenticated access but minimal permissions. Public proof-of-concept details are available in security advisories.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.6.14 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&new=2916148%40reviewx&old=2912114%40reviewx&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=#file472
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find ReviewX plugin and click 'Update Now' if available. 4. Alternatively, download version 1.6.14+ from WordPress repository and manually update.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable ReviewX Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched.
wp plugin deactivate reviewx
Restrict User Registration
allDisable new user registration to prevent attackers from creating accounts.
Navigate to Settings > General in WordPress admin and uncheck 'Anyone can register'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict user role monitoring and alert on any role changes
- Apply web application firewall rules to block requests containing 'wp_screen_options[option]' and 'wp_screen_options[value]' parameters
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check ReviewX plugin version in WordPress admin panel under Plugins > Installed Plugins. If version is 1.6.13 or lower, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get reviewx --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, confirm ReviewX plugin version shows 1.6.14 or higher in WordPress admin panel.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with 'action=rx_set_screen_options' containing role modification parameters
- User role change events in WordPress audit logs
- Unexpected privilege escalation events
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests with 'wp_screen_options[option]' and 'wp_screen_options[value]' parameters targeting admin-ajax.php
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress_logs" AND ("rx_set_screen_options" OR "wp_screen_options[option]")🔗 References
- https://lana.codes/lanavdb/a889c3ff-5df0-4d7e-951f-0b0406468efa/
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/reviewx/tags/1.6.13/includes/rx-functions.php#L972
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&new=2916148%40reviewx&old=2912114%40reviewx&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=#file472
- https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2023/05/wpdeveloper-addresses-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-in-reviewx-wordpress-plugin/
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/70e1d701-2cff-4793-9e4c-5b16a4038e8d?source=cve
- https://lana.codes/lanavdb/a889c3ff-5df0-4d7e-951f-0b0406468efa/
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/reviewx/tags/1.6.13/includes/rx-functions.php#L972
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&new=2916148%40reviewx&old=2912114%40reviewx&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=#file472
- https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2023/05/wpdeveloper-addresses-privilege-escalation-vulnerability-in-reviewx-wordpress-plugin/
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/70e1d701-2cff-4793-9e4c-5b16a4038e8d?source=cve
