CVE-2023-1166 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2023-1166 impacting USM Premium Plugin less than version 16.3. Discover mitigation steps and prevention strategies to address Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities.
This CVE record, assigned by WPScan, pertains to a vulnerability in the USM Premium WordPress plugin version less than 16.3, allowing for Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.
Understanding CVE-2023-1166
This section provides an insight into the nature and impact of CVE-2023-1166.
What is CVE-2023-1166?
CVE-2023-1166 involves the USM Premium WordPress plugin prior to version 16.3. It exposes a flaw where certain settings are not properly sanitized, enabling admin users to execute Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when restricted from unfiltered HTML capabilities.
The Impact of CVE-2023-1166
The vulnerability in USM Premium Plugin can be exploited by high-privileged users to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This could potentially lead to unauthorized actions, data theft, or further compromise of the affected WordPress sites.
Technical Details of CVE-2023-1166
Delve deeper into the technical aspects of CVE-2023-1166.
Vulnerability Description
The issue stems from inadequate sanitization of settings within the USM Premium plugin, creating an avenue for Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks by privileged users.
Affected Systems and Versions
The vulnerability impacts versions of the Ultimate-Premium-Plugin for WordPress that are below version 16.3.
Exploitation Mechanism
By exploiting this vulnerability, attackers with admin privileges can embed malicious scripts into various settings of the plugin, thereby executing harmful actions on the target site.
Mitigation and Prevention
Learn how to safeguard your systems from the risks associated with CVE-2023-1166.
Immediate Steps to Take
It is crucial to update the USM Premium WordPress plugin to version 16.3 or above to mitigate the risk of Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks. Additionally, monitoring and restricting admin privileges can help reduce the impact of potential exploits.
Long-Term Security Practices
Implement strict input validation and output encoding practices within plugins and themes to prevent vulnerabilities like Stored Cross-Site Scripting in the future. Regular security audits and training for site administrators can also bolster the overall security posture.
Patching and Updates
Regularly check for updates from the plugin vendor and apply patches promptly to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed and system security is maintained at optimal levels.