# CVE-2023-25701: WordPress WatchTowerHQ plugin <= 3.6.16 - Privilege Escalation

> Attackers can escalate privileges in the WatchTowerHQ WordPress plugin due to improper privilege management.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/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:** 17 May 2024
- **Updated:** 28 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-grw4-fg3f-pfjq

## What is CVE-2023-25701?

CVE-2023-25701 is a critical vulnerability in WhatArmy WatchTowerHQ, published on 17 May 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Improper Privilege Management vulnerability in WhatArmy WatchTowerHQ allows Privilege Escalation.This issue affects WatchTowerHQ: from n/a through 3.6.16.

Weakness: CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-25701?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Watchtowerhq Watchtower.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-25701?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-25701 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-25701 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-25701 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in WhatArmy WatchTowerHQ

- [CVE-2022-44584](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-44584/): WordPress WatchTowerHQ plugin <= 3.6.15 - Unauth. Arbitrary File Deletion vulnerability (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2022-44583](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-44583/): WordPress WatchTowerHQ plugin <= 3.6.15 - Unauth. Arbitrary File Download vulnerability (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-25701 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-25701 is a critical vulnerability in WhatArmy WatchTowerHQ, published on 17 May 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-25701 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: WhatArmy WatchTowerHQ. 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-2023-25701/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25701/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-25701
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-25701
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-25701

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-25701/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.