CVE-2023-22696 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-22696 was published by Patchstack on May 10, 2023. It involves a vulnerability in the Custom4Web Affiliate Links Lite plugin version 2.5 and below, making it susceptible to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.

Understanding CVE-2023-22696

This section will cover the details of the CVE-2023-22696 vulnerability, its impact, technical aspects, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-22696?

CVE-2023-22696 refers to a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in the Custom4Web Affiliate Links Lite plugin version 2.5 and earlier. This vulnerability can allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into a website, compromising its security.

The Impact of CVE-2023-22696

The impact of CVE-2023-22696 is categorized under CAPEC-592 Stored XSS, indicating a medium severity issue. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary scripts on the target system, potentially leading to data theft or unauthorized actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-22696

In this section, we will delve into the specific technical details of the CVE-2023-22696 vulnerability, including its description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Custom4Web Affiliate Links Lite plugin version 2.5 and earlier allows for Authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, enabling threat actors to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's functionality.

Affected Systems and Versions

Custom4Web Affiliate Links Lite plugin versions equal to or less than 2.5 are affected by the CVE-2023-22696 vulnerability. Users using these versions are at risk of exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by authenticated users to inject malicious scripts through input fields provided by the plugin, potentially affecting the integrity and security of the website.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the CVE-2023-22696 vulnerability, immediate steps need to be taken to mitigate the risk and prevent potential exploitation. Here are some recommended actions:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Custom4Web Affiliate Links Lite plugin to the latest version that includes a patch for the XSS vulnerability.
Implement security best practices to minimize the risk of XSS attacks, such as input validation and output encoding.
Monitor website activity for suspicious behavior that might indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and update all plugins and software to ensure vulnerabilities are promptly addressed.
Train website administrators and users on security awareness to recognize and report potential security threats.
Employ a web application firewall (WAF) to provide an additional layer of defense against XSS and other web-based attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by Custom4Web for the Affiliate Links Lite plugin. Timely installation of patches is crucial to safeguard your website against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-22696.