Arbitrary plugin activation via missing nonce validation
Published Dec 19, 2023 · Updated Apr 28, 2026
CSRF in OceanWP Ocean Extra 2.2.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to activate arbitrary plugins through a forged admin request. The ajax_required_plugins_activate() function omits or incorrectly performs nonce validation before processing the plugin-activation request. Exploitation requires a logged-in site administrator to click a malicious link or otherwise submit the forged request, after which an installed plugin can be activated without authorization.
Summary
What happened
CSRF in OceanWP Ocean Extra 2.2.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to activate arbitrary plugins through a forged admin request. The ajax_required_plugins_activate() function omits or incorrectly performs nonce validation before processing the plugin-activation request. Exploitation requires a logged-in site administrator to click a malicious link or otherwise submit the forged request, after which an installed plugin can be activated without authorization.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-49164
- Published
- Dec 19, 2023
- Updated
- Apr 28, 2026
- Vendor
- OceanWP
- Product
- Ocean Extra
- Classifications
- CWE-352, T1204.001
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 19, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 28, 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?
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- Affected versionversion=n/a <=2.2.2 changes=[{"at":"2.2.3","status":"unaffected"}]
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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