CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2023-1669NVD status: Modified

SEOPress: Deserialization of Untrusted Data

CVE-2023-1669 is a high-severity deserialization of untrusted data vulnerability in SEOPress, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.2 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with administrator privileges, without any action from a user. The record lists version 6.5.0.3 as the first without the flaw, so updating SEOPress to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 17.7% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is in the top 2.8% of all scored CVEs.

Patch this week

EPSS places it among the vulnerabilities most likely to be exploited soon.

What to do

  1. Update SEOPress to 6.5.0.3 or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
SEOPressSEOPressbefore 6.5.0.36.5.0.3

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
HighAdministrator-level access is required first.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
HighData or code can be modified at will.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.2HighNVD
CVSS 3.17.2HighCISA (ADP)

Official description

The SEOPress WordPress plugin before 6.5.0.3 unserializes user input provided via the settings, which could allow high-privilege users such as admin to perform PHP Object Injection when a suitable gadget is present.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Deserialization of Untrusted Data

The product deserializes untrusted data without sufficiently ensuring that the resulting data will be valid.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • If available, use the signing/sealing features of the programming language to assure that deserialized data has not been tainted. For example, a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) could be used to ensure that data has not been modified.
  • When deserializing data, populate a new object rather than just deserializing. The result is that the data flows through safe input validation and that the functions are safe.
  • Explicitly define a final object() to prevent deserialization.

More Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities (CWE-502)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)

Other vulnerabilities in SEOPress

All SEOPress vulnerabilities

Recent Deserialization of Untrusted Data vulnerabilities

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