CVE-2023-0993Network attack vector

Audit-log spoofing via unchecked AJAX action

Published Jun 9, 2023 · Updated Apr 8, 2026

Missing authorization in Shield Security 17.0.17 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to forge theme or plugin edit audit entries. The edit-theme-plugin-file AJAX handler records attacker-supplied file-edit events without checking whether the caller is authorized for the represented action. A WordPress login is required; successful requests falsify the security audit trail and can feed crafted log data into the separate stored-XSS flaw.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.55%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in Shield Security 17.0.17 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to forge theme or plugin edit audit entries. The edit-theme-plugin-file AJAX handler records attacker-supplied file-edit events without checking whether the caller is authorized for the represented action. A WordPress login is required; successful requests falsify the security audit trail and can feed crafted log data into the separate stored-XSS flaw.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0993
Published
Jun 9, 2023
Updated
Apr 8, 2026
Vendor
Shield Security
Product
Shield Security
Classifications
CWE-862, T1565.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 9, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 8, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <17.0.18

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Shield Security · Shield Securityversion=0 <17.0.18

Published CVSS scores

4.3WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
4.3NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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