BaseFortify

Executive Summary

This is a Broken Access Control vulnerability in the Wise Chat WordPress plugin versions up to 3.4.2. It allows users with low privileges, such as Subscribers, to access restricted pages or perform unauthorized actions. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.1 and is classified as medium priority.

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Detection Guidance

Detecting this vulnerability requires checking for unauthorized access attempts by Subscriber-level users. Monitor WordPress logs for unusual activity from low-privilege accounts accessing admin pages or sensitive endpoints. Look for repeated requests to restricted paths like /wp-admin/admin-ajax.php or /wp-json/wp/v2/users. Enable WordPress debug logging to track suspicious behavior.

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Impact Analysis

Attackers with limited access could exploit this to view sensitive data or perform actions they shouldn't. It may be used in large-scale attacks targeting many websites. There is no official patch yet, so users should apply temporary mitigations or seek help from developers.

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Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, which may violate compliance requirements under GDPR and HIPAA. Unauthorized access to restricted pages or data could result in data breaches, exposing personal or health information. However, specific compliance impacts depend on the data processed by the affected plugin.

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Mitigation Strategies

Apply Patchstack's temporary mitigation rule if available. Restrict Subscriber permissions via a plugin like User Role Editor to limit their capabilities. Disable the Wise Chat plugin if not essential. Monitor for exploitation attempts and update the plugin immediately once an official patch is released.

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