CVE-2023-0087 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2023-0087 was published by Wordfence on January 5, 2023. It involves a vulnerability in the Swifty Page Manager plugin for WordPress, allowing for Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Understanding CVE-2023-0087

This section will provide details on the nature of CVE-2023-0087 and its impacts.

What is CVE-2023-0087?

The Swifty Page Manager plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting through the 'spm_plugin_options_page_tree_max_width' parameter in versions up to 3.0.1. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. It enables authenticated attackers with administrator-level permissions to inject malicious web scripts into pages, executing whenever a user accesses the affected page. Notably, this vulnerability only affects multi-site installations and instances where unfiltered_html is disabled.

The Impact of CVE-2023-0087

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as MEDIUM with a CVSS base score of 5.5. Attackers can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary scripts within the context of the target user's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-0087

In this section, we delve into the specific technical aspects of CVE-2023-0087, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Swifty Page Manager plugin for WordPress allows for Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks, enabling attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts on affected pages.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Swifty Page Manager versions up to and including 3.0.1 in multi-site installations where unfiltered_html is disabled.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with authenticated access and administrator-level permissions can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious web scripts using the 'spm_plugin_options_page_tree_max_width' parameter.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the necessary steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2023-0087.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or uninstall the affected Swifty Page Manager plugin version 3.0.1 or lower.
Regularly monitor for security updates and patches from the plugin developer.
Implement least privilege access control to minimize the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments of WordPress plugins.
Educate users on safe practices and security awareness to prevent social engineering attacks.
Implement web application firewalls and security plugins to enhance defense mechanisms.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that you promptly apply patches and updates released by the plugin developer to address known vulnerabilities and enhance the security posture of your WordPress installation.