CVE-2023-41130
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a missing authorization vulnerability in the Premmerce User Roles WordPress plugin that allows attackers to exploit incorrectly configured access control security levels. Attackers can perform unauthorized actions that should be restricted to privileged users. This affects all WordPress sites running Premmerce User Roles plugin versions up to and including 1.0.12.
💻 Affected Systems
- Premmerce User Roles 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
Complete site compromise through privilege escalation, allowing attackers to gain administrative access, modify user roles, install malicious plugins, or exfiltrate sensitive data.
Likely Case
Unauthorized modification of user roles and permissions, potentially granting attackers elevated privileges or disrupting normal site operations.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper access controls, network segmentation, and monitoring in place, though the vulnerability still exists.
🎯 Exploit Status
Missing authorization vulnerabilities typically require some level of access but are straightforward to exploit once identified.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 1.0.12
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins → Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Premmerce User Roles' plugin. 4. Click 'Update Now' if update available. 5. If no update available, deactivate and remove plugin, then install latest version from WordPress repository.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Plugin
allTemporarily disable the vulnerable plugin until patched version is available
wp plugin deactivate premmerce-user-roles
Restrict Access
linuxImplement IP-based restrictions to WordPress admin area
# Add to .htaccess for Apache: Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
Allow from 192.168.1.0/24
# Add to nginx config: allow 192.168.1.0/24; deny all;
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict network segmentation to isolate WordPress installation
- Enable detailed logging and monitoring for unauthorized access attempts to user role management functions
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins for Premmerce User Roles version. If version is 1.0.12 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get premmerce-user-roles --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify plugin version is higher than 1.0.12 in WordPress admin panel → Plugins → Installed Plugins.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized POST requests to user role management endpoints
- Multiple failed authorization attempts followed by successful role modifications
- Unusual user role changes from non-admin accounts
Network Indicators:
- HTTP requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with user role modification parameters from unauthorized IPs
- Unusual traffic patterns to WordPress admin endpoints
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("premmerce-user-roles" OR "user_role") AND ("action=edit" OR "action=update") AND NOT user="admin"