# CVE-2023-2736: Groundhogg <= 2.7.9.8 - Cross-Site Request Forgery to Privilege Escalation

> Authenticated attackers can exploit CSRF to modify auto-login links and escalate privileges by tricking administrators into clicking a link.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 May 2023
- **Updated:** 8 Apr 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rj8g-vvxw-439q

## What is CVE-2023-2736?

CVE-2023-2736 is a high-severity vulnerability in trainingbusinesspros Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation, published on 20 May 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The Groundhogg plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Cross-Site Request Forgery in versions up to, and including, 2.7.9.8. This is due to missing nonce validation in the 'ajax_edit_contact' function. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers to receive the auto login link via shortcode and then modify the assigned user to the auto login link to elevate verified user privileges via a forged request granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link.

Weakness: CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-2736?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Groundhogg Groundhogg.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-2736?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-2736 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-2736 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-2736 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in trainingbusinesspros Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation

- [CVE-2019-15647](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15647/): The groundhogg plugin before 1.3.5 for WordPress has wp-admin/admin-ajax.php?action=bulk_action_listener remote code execution. (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-34179](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34179/): WordPress Groundhogg Plugin <= 2.7.11 is vulnerable to SQL Injection (high 7.6)
- [CVE-2023-1425](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1425/): Groundhogg Contacts < 2.7.9.4 - Admin+ SQLi (high 7.2)
- [CVE-2024-37264](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-37264/): WordPress Groundhogg plugin <= 3.4.2.3 - Reflected Cross Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability (high 7.1)
- [CVE-2023-40681](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40681/): WordPress Groundhogg Plugin <= 2.7.11.10 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS) (medium 5.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-2736 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-2736 is a high-severity vulnerability in trainingbusinesspros Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation, published on 20 May 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-2736 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: trainingbusinesspros Groundhogg — CRM, Newsletters, and Marketing Automation. 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-2023-2736/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2736/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-2736
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2736
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-2736

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2736/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.