CVE-2023-7019 is a security vulnerability identified in the LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming Soon and Landing Page Builder plugin for WordPress, developed by themeisle. This vulnerability arises from a missing authorization check (CWE-862) in the insert_template function, which is responsible for modifying or inserting page templates. Specifically, the plugin fails to verify whether an authenticated user has the necessary permissions before allowing modification of page designs. As a result, any authenticated user with subscriber-level access or higher can exploit this flaw to alter page layouts or designs without proper authorization. This vulnerability affects all versions up to and including 2.6.8 of the plugin. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), and only requires privileges equivalent to a subscriber (PR:L). No user interaction is needed (UI:N), and the impact is limited to integrity (I:L) with no confidentiality or availability impact. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no official patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers who have managed to obtain subscriber-level credentials or by insiders with such access, enabling unauthorized changes to website appearance or content presentation, potentially undermining the trustworthiness or branding of affected sites.

For European organizations, especially those relying on WordPress websites with the LightStart plugin installed, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized content or design modifications. While the confidentiality and availability of the site are not directly impacted, the integrity of the website's presentation can be compromised. This could lead to reputational damage, loss of customer trust, or the insertion of misleading or malicious content that could indirectly facilitate phishing or social engineering attacks. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, media, education, and government that use this plugin might face brand damage or customer confusion. Since the exploit requires only subscriber-level access, attackers could leverage compromised low-privilege accounts or exploit weak authentication mechanisms to gain access. The lack of user interaction needed means automated attacks could be feasible once access is obtained. The medium severity rating reflects the limited scope of impact but does not diminish the importance of addressing the issue promptly to maintain website integrity and user trust.

European organizations should immediately audit their WordPress installations to identify the presence of the LightStart – Maintenance Mode, Coming Soon and Landing Page Builder plugin, particularly versions up to 2.6.8. Until an official patch is released, organizations should restrict subscriber-level account creation and review existing subscriber accounts for suspicious activity. Implementing strong authentication controls such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all user roles, including subscribers, can reduce the risk of account compromise. Additionally, organizations should consider temporarily disabling or uninstalling the plugin if it is not critical to operations. Monitoring website content and design changes for unauthorized modifications can help detect exploitation attempts early. Web application firewalls (WAFs) can be configured to detect and block suspicious requests targeting the insert_template function if signatures are available. Finally, organizations should stay alert for updates from themeisle and apply patches promptly once released.