CVE-2023-23708 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-23708 pertains to a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Themeisle Visualizer: Tables and Charts Manager plugin for WordPress version 3.9.4 and below. The vulnerability was reported by Rafshanzani Suhada from Patchstack Alliance and has been classified with a CVSS base score of 6.5, indicating a medium severity level.

Understanding CVE-2023-23708

This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2023-23708, shedding light on what it is and the impact it can have.

What is CVE-2023-23708?

The CVE-2023-23708 vulnerability is an Authorization (contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) flaw found in the Themeisle Visualizer: Tables and Charts Manager plugin for WordPress versions up to 3.9.4. This vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

The Impact of CVE-2023-23708

The impact of this vulnerability is categorized as CAPEC-592 Stored XSS. If exploited, attackers can execute malicious scripts within the context of the vulnerable site, leading to various malicious activities such as data theft, privilege escalation, and defacement.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-23708

In this section, the technical aspects of CVE-2023-23708 are discussed in detail to provide a comprehensive understanding of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Themeisle Visualizer: Tables and Charts Manager plugin for WordPress versions up to 3.9.4 allows for stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks. This means that unauthorized users with contributor-level access or higher can inject malicious scripts into the plugin, which may be executed within users' browsers.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected system is the Themeisle Visualizer: Tables and Charts Manager plugin for WordPress versions up to 3.9.4. Users utilizing these versions are at risk of exploitation if the vulnerability is not addressed promptly.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability requires attacker interaction to inject malicious scripts into the plugin, which can then be triggered when other users view the compromised content on the website.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from the CVE-2023-23708 vulnerability, it is crucial to implement appropriate mitigation measures and preventive actions.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update the Themeisle Visualizer plugin to version 3.9.5 or higher to patch the vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation.
Website administrators can also consider disabling the affected plugin until a patch can be applied to mitigate the risk of XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly updating plugins and software to the latest versions can help prevent known vulnerabilities from being exploited.
Implementing robust access controls and user permissions can limit the impact of potential XSS attacks on websites.

Patching and Updates

The solution to address CVE-2023-23708 is to update the Themeisle Visualizer: Tables and Charts Manager plugin to version 3.9.5 or newer. This update contains a patch that eliminates the XSS vulnerability, ensuring a more secure WordPress environment.