Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A WordPress security plugin intended to restrict access could be bypassed by spoofing identity-related network information. For affected sites, an unauthenticated remote actor may reach functionality that should have been limited by IP rules. The recorded impact is limited confidentiality exposure, not site takeover.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate-priority WordPress plugin issue. It does not indicate full compromise, but it weakens a security control and is remotely reachable without login. Prioritize internet-facing WordPress properties and sites relying on this plugin for restricted security functions.
Technical view
CVE-2023-52176 affects miniorange Malware Scanner, package miniorange-malware-protection, through version 4.7.1. It is classified as authentication bypass by spoofing, CWE-290, with CVSS 3.1 score 5.3: network reachable, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, low confidentiality impact only.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running the miniorange Malware Scanner plugin at version 4.7.1 or earlier, especially where IP restrictions protect scanner-related functionality. Sites not using this plugin, or not running affected versions, are not indicated as affected by the supplied sources.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates unauthenticated remote reachability and low attack complexity. The bundle does not include KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation. It also does not provide public exploit details, named campaigns, or observed attacker use.
Researcher notes
The source bundle identifies affected versions through 4.7.1 and a spoofing-based authentication bypass, but it does not name a fixed version, detailed vulnerable endpoint, or validated workaround. Avoid assuming broader miniorange product exposure beyond Malware Scanner.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for miniorange Malware Scanner installations.
- Confirm installed versions are not 4.7.1 or earlier.
- Check vendor and Patchstack guidance for the fixed release or official mitigation.
- Restrict administrative and scanner access using trusted server-side controls.
- Temporarily disable the plugin if exposure cannot be reduced promptly.
Validation and detection
- Review WordPress plugin inventory for miniorange-malware-protection.
- Record installed plugin version across production and staging sites.
- Check access logs for unexpected scanner functionality access from untrusted networks.
- Verify IP restriction behavior after applying vendor guidance.
- Document whether the plugin is internet-facing or admin-only.
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-290: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. 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 lookupCredential and access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-52176 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
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:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N3.91.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Source materials
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.
Authentication Bypass by Spoofing
Authentication Bypass by Spoofing represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.