CVE-2023-49192
📋 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 control security levels, potentially modifying widget content without proper permissions. This affects all WordPress sites using Enhanced Text Widget versions up to and including 1.6.3.
💻 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 entire WordPress site, potentially injecting malicious scripts, defacing pages, or redirecting users to malicious sites.
Likely Case
Authenticated users with limited privileges could escalate their access to modify widget content they shouldn't have permission to edit, potentially causing content manipulation or minor site defacement.
If Mitigated
With proper user role management and access controls, only authorized administrators can modify widgets, limiting the attack surface to compromised admin accounts.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires some level of authenticated access to WordPress, though potentially with limited privileges.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.6.4 or later
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Log into WordPress admin panel. 2. Navigate to Plugins > Installed Plugins. 3. Find 'Enhanced Text Widget'. 4. Click 'Update Now' if available, or manually update to version 1.6.4+. 5. Verify the plugin is active and functioning correctly.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Enhanced Text Widget Plugin
allTemporarily deactivate the vulnerable plugin until patched
wp plugin deactivate enhanced-text-widget
Restrict User Roles
allLimit administrative access and review user permissions
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Remove or disable the Enhanced Text Widget plugin entirely
- Implement strict access controls and monitor for unauthorized widget modifications
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check WordPress admin panel > Plugins > Enhanced Text Widget version. If version is 1.6.3 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
wp plugin get enhanced-text-widget --field=versionVerify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify the plugin version shows 1.6.4 or later in WordPress admin plugins list.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unauthorized POST requests to widget update endpoints
- User role escalation attempts in WordPress logs
- Unexpected widget content modifications
Network Indicators:
- HTTP POST requests to /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php with widget modification parameters from unauthorized users
SIEM Query:
source="wordpress.log" AND ("admin-ajax.php" AND "action=save-widget") AND user_role!="administrator"