User Profile Builder – Beautiful User…: Improper Authentication
CVE-2023-2297 is a high-severity improper authentication vulnerability in User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor from Cozmoslabs, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.1 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor versions: 3.9.0 and earlier. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.99% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 63% of scored CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cozmoslabs | User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor | 3.9.0 and earlier | Not stated |
| Cozmoslabs | Profile Builder | 3.9.0 and earlier | Not stated |
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
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- 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
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 9.8 | Critical | CNA (wordfence.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.1 | High | NVD |
Official description
The Profile Builder – User Profile & User Registration Forms plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized password resets in versions up to, and including 3.9.0. This is due to the plugin using native password reset functionality, with insufficient validation on the password reset function (wppb_front_end_password_recovery). The function uses the plaintext value of a password reset key instead of a hashed value which means it can easily be retrieved and subsequently used. An attacker can leverage CVE-2023-0814, or another vulnerability like SQL Injection in another plugin or theme installed on the site to successfully exploit this vulnerability.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Authentication
When an actor claims to have a given identity, the product does not prove or insufficiently proves that the claim is correct.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use an authentication framework or library such as the OWASP ESAPI Authentication feature.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)
- lana.codes/lanavdb/512e7307-04a5-4d8b-8f79-f75f37784a9f/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
- wordfence.com/blog/2023/03/vulnerability-patched-in-cozmolabs-profile-builder-plugin-information-disclosure-l…Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Other vulnerabilities in User Profile Builder – Beautiful User Registration Forms, User Profiles & User Role Editor
- 7.1 High severity
- 8.1 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 7.2 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
Recent Improper Authentication vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
PaperCut NG/MF Improper Authentication Exploited
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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