CVE-2023-4307 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting the WordPress plugin "Lock User Account" up to version 1.0.3. This plugin is designed to allow administrators to lock and unlock user accounts in bulk. The vulnerability arises because the plugin does not implement proper CSRF protections on the bulk lock/unlock functionality. As a result, an attacker can craft a malicious web request that, when visited by a logged-in WordPress administrator, triggers the locking or unlocking of arbitrary user accounts without the administrator's consent or knowledge. This attack exploits the trust a web application has in the user's browser by leveraging the administrator's authenticated session. The vulnerability requires the victim to be authenticated as an admin and to interact with a malicious link or webpage (user interaction required). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based, requires user interaction, and does not require privileges beyond being an authenticated admin. The impact is limited to integrity as attackers can alter user account states (lock/unlock) but cannot affect confidentiality or availability directly. No known exploits are reported in the wild, and no patches or vendor updates are currently linked. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-352, which is a common web security weakness related to CSRF attacks.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the Lock User Account plugin, this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized locking or unlocking of user accounts by attackers exploiting CSRF. This can disrupt user management workflows, potentially locking out legitimate users or unlocking accounts that should remain restricted. While it does not directly compromise data confidentiality or availability, it undermines the integrity of user access controls. In environments where user account status is critical for compliance or operational security (e.g., governmental, financial, or healthcare sectors), this could lead to operational disruptions or increased risk of insider threats if unauthorized users gain access through unlocked accounts. Additionally, the attack requires an administrator to be logged in and interact with malicious content, so social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to facilitate exploitation. The lack of known exploits suggests limited current threat activity, but the presence of this vulnerability in administrative functions makes it a moderate risk that should be addressed promptly to maintain secure user management.

1. Implement CSRF tokens on all bulk lock/unlock actions in the Lock User Account plugin to ensure that requests originate from legitimate admin interactions. 2. Restrict the plugin's bulk lock/unlock functionality to administrators only and verify user capabilities rigorously before processing requests. 3. Educate administrators to avoid clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites while logged into WordPress admin panels to reduce the risk of CSRF exploitation. 4. Monitor administrative logs for unusual bulk lock/unlock activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5. If possible, isolate administrative access to trusted networks or use multi-factor authentication to reduce the risk of session hijacking or misuse. 6. Regularly update WordPress plugins and core to the latest versions once patches become available for this vulnerability. 7. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block CSRF attack patterns targeting administrative endpoints.