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If your WordPress site uses Houzez, check the Houzez theme and the Houzez Login Register plugin separately. The theme is affected through version 2.7.1 and the plugin through version 2.6.3; the respective fixes are 2.7.2 and 2.6.4. Patchstack reported exploitation attempts in February 2023, but those historical reports do not establish that attacks are continuing today.
What the Houzez vulnerability allowed
The flaw affected the registration flow in the Houzez real-estate theme and its associated Houzez Login Register plugin. When registration functionality was enabled, an unauthenticated visitor could submit a requested account role—including administrator—rather than being restricted to a low-privilege role. That created a path to administrator privileges without first having an account.
SecurityWeek reported that an attacker could visit a target site, obtain a nonce used for CSRF protection, and submit a crafted request to the registration endpoint. A nonce is not a guarantee that a request is safe if the application fails to enforce which roles a visitor may request.
Which components and versions are affected?
The theme and plugin are separate components with separate vulnerability identifiers and fixes. Check both if they are installed; updating one does not establish that the other is patched.
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| Component | Vulnerability | Affected versions | Fixed version | Severity listed by Patchstack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houzez theme | CVE-2023-26540 | 2.7.1 and earlier | 2.7.2 | CVSS 9.8 |
| Houzez Login Register plugin | CVE-2023-26009 | 2.6.3 and earlier | 2.6.4 | CVSS 9.8 |
The version ranges and fixes are those in Patchstack’s vulnerability records. These are the documented 2023 fixes, not a statement of the newest release available now.
How to check and update a Houzez site
- Check the theme: In WordPress, open Appearance > Themes and inspect the installed Houzez version. If it is 2.7.1 or earlier, update Houzez to version 2.7.2 or later.
- Check the plugin independently: Open Plugins > Installed Plugins, find Houzez Login Register, and inspect its version. If it is 2.6.3 or earlier, update it to version 2.6.4 or later.
- Confirm both results: If both components are installed, verify that each has reached its own fixed version. Do not treat the theme’s version number as the plugin’s version number.
- If an update is unavailable in your WordPress dashboard: Contact the theme or plugin vendor or your site administrator for the supported update route. Do not assume that an update to a different Houzez component fixes the vulnerable one.
What was reported about exploitation?
Patchstack published its advisory on February 27, 2023, and SecurityWeek reported on it on February 28, 2023. Both reported exploitation attempts at that time. Patchstack also said it observed a large number of attacks from IP address 103.167.93.138 in connection with its February 27 advisory. These reports document activity in 2023; they are not evidence of current attacks.
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Attempts are not the same as confirmed successful compromises. The cited reporting does not establish how many sites, if any, were successfully compromised. SecurityWeek reported that Patchstack’s products blocked attempts and that the attacker’s objective had not been determined. SecurityWeek also noted that Houzez had more than 35,000 ThemeForest sales as of its February 28, 2023 report; that historical sales figure is not a count of vulnerable or breached websites.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if you suspect a compromise
An administrator account could enable an attacker to install a malicious plugin containing a backdoor. Patchstack CTO Dave Jong described that as a likely post-exploitation outcome, with possible subsequent actions such as command listening, ad injection, or visitor redirects. This is a risk assessment, not confirmation that every vulnerable site—or any particular site—was backdoored.
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If you suspect the site was accessed, Patchstack advises contacting your hosting provider for server-side malware scanning or using a professional incident-response service. Patchstack cautions that malware can tamper with plugin-based scanners, so a clean result from a WordPress plugin scanner alone may not settle the question. Follow your organization’s incident-response process as well as any advice from your host or responder.
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Sources
- SecurityWeek, February 28, 2023: reporting on the vulnerability and observed attacks
- Patchstack, February 27, 2023: Houzez theme advisory
- Patchstack: CVE-2023-26540 theme record
- Patchstack: CVE-2023-26009 plugin record and response guidance
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