CVE-2023-23639Network attack vector

Subscriber-level plugin activation via missing capability check

Published Jun 9, 2024 · Updated Apr 28, 2026

Missing authorization in MainWP Staging Extension 4.0.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to activate arbitrary plugins. The plugin activation path performs the requested activation without a WordPress capability check. Subscriber-level access is sufficient; the direct consequence is changing which already installed plugins execute, with no disclosed ability to upload new code.

CVSS severity5.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.29%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in MainWP Staging Extension 4.0.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to activate arbitrary plugins. The plugin activation path performs the requested activation without a WordPress capability check. Subscriber-level access is sufficient; the direct consequence is changing which already installed plugins execute, with no disclosed ability to upload new code.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-23639
Published
Jun 9, 2024
Updated
Apr 28, 2026
Vendor
MainWP
Product
MainWP Staging Extension
Classifications
CWE-862
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 9, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 28, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=n/a <=4.0.3 changes=[{"at":"4.0.4","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

MainWP · MainWP Staging Extensionversion=n/a <=4.0.3 changes=[{"at":"4.0.4","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

5.4WordfenceCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
5.4PatchstackCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo