CVE-2023-40679 is a missing authorization vulnerability classified under CWE-862 found in the Master Addons for Elementor plugin developed by Jewel Theme. This plugin extends the Elementor page builder functionality for WordPress sites. The vulnerability arises from incorrectly configured access control mechanisms, allowing unauthorized users to perform actions that should be restricted. Specifically, the flaw enables exploitation without requiring any privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N), and the attack vector is network-based (AV:N), meaning an attacker can exploit it remotely over the internet. The impact includes potential integrity and availability issues, such as unauthorized modification or disruption of site content or functionality. The vulnerability affects versions up to 2.0.5.3, though the exact range is unspecified ('n/a' to 2.0.5.3). No patches or fixes are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used WordPress plugin makes it a notable risk, especially for websites relying on this addon for critical content management or e-commerce functions. Attackers exploiting this flaw could compromise site integrity or availability, potentially leading to reputational damage or operational disruption.

For European organizations, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to websites and web applications built on WordPress using the Master Addons for Elementor plugin. Potential impacts include unauthorized changes to website content, defacement, injection of malicious content, or denial of service conditions affecting availability. This could disrupt business operations, damage brand reputation, and lead to loss of customer trust. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, media, education, and government that rely heavily on WordPress for their web presence are particularly at risk. Given the network-exploitable nature and lack of required authentication, attackers can remotely target vulnerable sites without prior access, increasing the threat surface. The absence of known exploits suggests limited current active exploitation, but the medium severity and ease of exploitation mean attackers may develop exploits in the future. Additionally, compliance with data protection regulations like GDPR could be impacted if the vulnerability leads to unauthorized data manipulation or service outages.

1. Monitor official Jewel Theme and Master Addons for Elementor channels for security patches and apply updates promptly once available. 2. Until a patch is released, restrict access to the plugin's administrative functions by limiting user roles and permissions strictly to trusted administrators. 3. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAF) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the plugin's endpoints. 4. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability scans focusing on WordPress plugins to identify and remediate similar issues proactively. 5. Employ intrusion detection systems (IDS) to monitor for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Educate site administrators on the risks of unauthorized plugin access and enforce strong authentication mechanisms for WordPress admin accounts. 7. Consider isolating critical WordPress instances or using containerization to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation. 8. Backup website data regularly to enable quick recovery in case of integrity or availability compromise.