BAN Users <= 1.5.3 - Missing Authorization to Authenticated (Subscriber+) Settings Update & Privilege Escalation
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-266.
Summary
The BAN Users plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to privilege escalation in versions up to, and including, 1.5.3 due to a missing capability check on the 'w3dev_save_ban_user_settings_callback' function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with minimal permissions such as a subscriber, to modify the plugin settings to access the ban and unban functionality and set the role of the unbanned user.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-4153
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mv5m-mjc6-j826
References
More webxmedia vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-33934 WordPress Bulk Change Role plugin <= 1.1 - Privilege Escalation vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2023-4153 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-4153 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mv5m-mjc6-j826 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences