# CVE-2022-0993: SiteGround Security <= 1.2.5 - Authorization Weakness to Authentication Bypass

> Unauthenticated attackers can bypass two-factor authentication to log in as administrators due to missing identity verification in backup codes.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 19 Apr 2022
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-24fr-xcq3-rqjr

## What is CVE-2022-0993?

CVE-2022-0993 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in siteground Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin, published on 19 Apr 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The SiteGround Security plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to authentication bypass that allows unauthenticated users to log in as administrative users due to missing identity verification on the 2FA back-up code implementation that logs users in upon success. This affects versions up to, and including, 1.2.5.

Weakness: CWE-306 (Missing Authentication for Critical Functionality), CWE-285 (Improper Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-0993?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Siteground Siteground Security.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-0993?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-0993 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-0993 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-0993 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in siteground Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin

- [CVE-2023-0234](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-0234/): SiteGround Security < 1.3.1 - Admin+ SQLi (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-0993 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-0993 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in siteground Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin, published on 19 Apr 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2022-0993 exists.

Affected product: siteground Security Optimizer – The All-In-One Protection Plugin. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0993/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0993/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-0993
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-0993
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-0993

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0993/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.