CVE-2023-23685 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2023-23685 was published by Patchstack on April 4, 2023, affecting the WordPress Portfolio Plugin versions <= 2.8.10. The vulnerability involves Auth. (contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in the RadiusTheme Portfolio – WordPress Portfolio Plugin.

Understanding CVE-2023-23685

This section will delve into details about the vulnerability, its impact, technical description, affected systems, and mitigation steps.

What is CVE-2023-23685?

The CVE-2023-23685 involves a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the RadiusTheme Portfolio – WordPress Portfolio Plugin versions <= 2.8.10. This vulnerability allows contributors and higher roles to inject malicious scripts, posing a risk to website security.

The Impact of CVE-2023-23685

With a CVSS V3.1 base score of 6.5 (Medium Severity), this vulnerability can be exploited remotely with low privilege requirements, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. The impact is categorized as a Stored XSS (CAPEC-592).

Technical Details of CVE-2023-23685

This section provides in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows authenticated contributors and higher roles to store malicious scripts, leading to Cross-Site Scripting attacks on websites utilizing the affected versions of the WordPress Portfolio Plugin.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected versions of the RadiusTheme Portfolio – WordPress Portfolio Plugin include all versions up to and including 2.8.10.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with contributor-level access or higher can exploit this vulnerability via crafted input, leading to the execution of malicious scripts within the context of the affected WordPress website.

Mitigation and Prevention

To protect against CVE-2023-23685, immediate actions and long-term security measures should be taken.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should update the RadiusTheme Portfolio – WordPress Portfolio Plugin to version 2.8.11 or higher. Regular security assessments and monitoring for unusual activities should also be implemented.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, conducting regular security audits, and educating users about safe data handling can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly applying security patches and updates provided by the plugin developer is crucial to safeguard the website against potential security threats.

By understanding the details and implications of CVE-2023-23685, website owners and administrators can take proactive steps to secure their WordPress websites and mitigate the risk of Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities.