Subscriber-to-Administrator escalation via unchecked role update
Published Apr 12, 2023 · Updated Apr 8, 2026
Privilege escalation in WP Data Access 5.3.7 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to gain Administrator access through profile updates. The multiple_roles_update function accepts the wpda_role[] profile parameter without an authorization check, allowing a subscriber to assign an elevated role. Exploitation requires the site's Enable role management setting, and Administrator access permits full control of the WordPress site.
Summary
What happened
Privilege escalation in WP Data Access 5.3.7 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to gain Administrator access through profile updates. The multiple_roles_update function accepts the wpda_role[] profile parameter without an authorization check, allowing a subscriber to assign an elevated role. Exploitation requires the site's Enable role management setting, and Administrator access permits full control of the WordPress site.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-1874
- Published
- Apr 12, 2023
- Updated
- Apr 8, 2026
- Vendor
- Passionate Programmer Peter
- Product
- WP Data Access
- Classifications
- CWE-266, T1098
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 12, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=0 <=5.3.7
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Public exploit references
- WordPress WP Data Access 5.3.7 Privilege Escalationproof of concept · unverified
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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