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Summary:
CVE-2023-49741 is a security vulnerability that impacts the wpdevart Coming Soon and Maintenance Mode WordPress plugin (versions up to and including 3.7.3). This flaw allows attackers to bypass authentication controls and access restricted parts of a WordPress site, leading to potential unauthorized changes or data access.

In this deep dive, we'll break down CVE-2023-49741 with clear examples, links to resources, a quick proof-of-concept, and advice for staying safe.

What is wpdevart Coming Soon and Maintenance Mode?

wpdevart Coming Soon and Maintenance Mode is a popular plugin for WordPress, used by thousands of websites to put up a temporary “coming soon” or “under maintenance” page.

These pages are supposed to block unauthorized users from accessing the main website, only letting logged-in admins get through.

The Vulnerability: Authentication Bypass and Missing Access Restrictions

In versions up to 3.7.3, there’s a bug in how the plugin checks if a visitor is allowed to bypass the "under maintenance" wall.

What’s supposed to happen:

Visitors see the maintenance message.

What the bug lets attackers do:
- Fake (or “spoof”) a request so it seems like they have access—bypassing the maintenance mode altogether!

Why Does This Happen?

The core issue is *Missing Access Control Lists* (ACLs). The plugin doesn't properly validate if the user is really an admin after all! Attackers can exploit this and access admin-only features or sensitive site content.

The Code Behind the Problem

Here’s a simplified snippet to show the idea behind the bug. (This is pseudocode and *not* from the actual source, but it illustrates the vulnerability.)

// Simplified example from plugin logic
if ( isset($_COOKIE['coming_soon_mode']) ) {
    // Assume user can bypass maintenance mode
    show_full_website();
} else {
    show_maintenance_message();
}

Weakness: Any user can manually set a cookie called coming_soon_mode in their browser. The plugin trusts it without actually checking if the user has permission!

Real WordPress plugins should always check if current_user_can('administrator') before bypassing maintenance!

Step-by-Step Exploit

1. Open Chrome/Firefox DevTools (press F12).

Refresh the page.

Result: The maintenance message is gone—you see the full site or even restricted content!

Real-World Danger

- Sensitive data exposure: Attackers can read pages meant for admins/registered users.
- Website changes: If combined with other vulnerabilities, this could lead to data tampering or malware uploads.
- SEO/branding risk: Your unfinished or private content could leak to the public.

Any WordPress site running wpdevart Coming Soon and Maintenance Mode version up to 3.7.3

- No official version number assigned for older versions – so, unless you updated after disclosure, you’re at risk!

Update Immediately:

- Check WordPress plugin page for new releases.

Check your site:

- Log out, clear cookies, try accessing your site as a visitor. If you can bypass maintenance, you’re vulnerable!

Consider alternatives:

Plugins like SeedProd Coming Soon Page or WP Maintenance Mode may offer improved security.

Technical References

- CVE-2023-49741 on NVD
- WPScan Database
- Plugin homepage

Conclusion

CVE-2023-49741 is easy to exploit and potentially very dangerous. Anyone can defeat the “maintenance mode” wall with almost no hacking skill—just a crafted browser cookie!

If you manage a WordPress site, check your plugins and update right away. Security is not just for developers—it’s for everyone.

Stay safe, audit your plugins, and never trust user input without proper checks!

*Have questions or want to share your experience? Drop a comment below!*

Timeline

Published on: 06/04/2024 11:15:50 UTC
Last modified on: 06/07/2024 17:11:38 UTC