Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This WordPress plugin flaw lets an administrator-level user manipulate database queries through the Simple Membership WP user Import plugin. If an admin account is compromised or untrusted, sensitive database data could be exposed or changed. The provided sources do not show unauthenticated access or confirmed active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority cleanup for affected WordPress sites, especially where admin accounts are numerous or externally managed. It is not evidenced as actively exploited in the provided sources, but database impact could be severe if an admin account is abused.
Technical view
CVE-2023-0254 is CWE-89 SQL injection in the orderby parameter of Simple Membership WP user Import versions up to and including 1.7. The issue is attributed to insufficient escaping of user-supplied input. CVSS 3.1 is 7.2: network-reachable, low complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, high CIA impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running Simple Membership WP user Import at version 1.7 or earlier, where an attacker has administrator privileges. Risk increases if admin accounts are shared, weakly protected, or already compromised.
Exploitation context
The source bundle marks this as not in CISA KEV and provides no cited evidence of active exploitation. Because privileges required are admin-level, this is mainly a post-compromise, malicious insider, or unsafe delegated-admin risk rather than a broad unauthenticated internet threat.
Researcher notes
The CVE record describes versions up to 1.7 as vulnerable, while the provided affected metadata is sparse and internally awkward. Ground validation on installed plugin name, version, Wordfence advisory, and the referenced WordPress Trac changeset. Avoid assuming broader affected products or exploit availability.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for Simple Membership WP user Import.
- Update or remove vulnerable plugin versions following vendor guidance.
- Restrict WordPress administrator access to trusted users only.
- Enforce MFA and strong passwords for administrator accounts.
- Review WordPress security plugin or WAF coverage for SQL injection attempts.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether the plugin is installed and record its version.
- Flag any site running version 1.7 or earlier.
- Review admin activity logs for unusual plugin import activity.
- Check web logs for suspicious admin requests involving orderby parameters.
- Verify remediation by confirming the vulnerable version is no longer present.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-89: Database access and collection lookup
Injection into data stores can inform collection, data access, and exfiltration detection reviews. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupDatabase behavior lookup
The CVE wording references database injection or access, so collection and exfiltration review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-0254 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.2 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.25.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.2HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/6f781533-b633-4452-95bd-c32ed0de2ea9?source=cveCVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=2829005%40simple-membership-wp-user-import&new=2829005%40simple-membership-wp-user-import&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=CVE reference
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/6f781533-b633-4452-95bd-c32ed0de2ea9CVE reference · x_transferred
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.