WP User Switch: Privilege escalation or authentication bypass

WP User Switch is affected by privilege escalation or authentication bypass. Exploitation requires an authenticated WordPress account. A successful request can grant permissions or access that the caller should not possess.

CVE / CNA score 8.8 CVSS 3.1 · security@wordfence.com

NVD score 8.8 CVSS 3.1 · nvd@nist.gov

Component: WP User Switch
Plugin slug: wp-user-switch
Affected: See vendor advisory
Safe version: See mitigation notes
Published: Jun 06, 2023
Weakness: CWE-288 — Authentication Bypass Using an Alternate Path or Channel

This CVE was published Jun 06, 2023 and is one of 2 known issues for this plugin.

What to do

Update, patch or deactivate.

Update WP User Switch to a release outside the affected range, or disable and remove it until a fixed version is available.

No confirmed safe version is listed. Consider a vendor-supported patch or temporarily restricting the affected functionality while you assess the risk.

Deactivate only when warranted by your risk profile, or when advised by your hosting provider in the limited circumstances where the vulnerability cannot otherwise be mitigated. If you’re unsure which action is appropriate, contact Fused or your hosting provider for guidance.

Source record

Technical description

The WP User Switch plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authentication bypass in versions up to, and including, 1.0.2. This is due to incorrect authentication checking in the 'wpus_allow_user_to_admin_bar_menu' function with the 'wpus_who_switch' cookie value. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with subscriber-level permissions and above, to log in as any existing user on the site, such as an administrator, if they have access to the username.

CVE / CNA vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

NVD vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

References

Update, patch or deactivate.

Technical description

Primary and upstream sources