CVE-2023-23973 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-23973 describes a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability found in the a3rev Software Contact Us Page – Contact People plugin version <= 3.7.0. The vulnerability was discovered by Rio Darmawan from Patchstack Alliance and was published on March 1, 2023.

Understanding CVE-2023-23973

This section provides an in-depth look into the nature of the CVE-2023-23973 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2023-23973?

The CVE-2023-23973 vulnerability is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability present in the a3rev Software Contact Us Page – Contact People plugin version <= 3.7.0. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of a user.

The Impact of CVE-2023-23973

The impact of CVE-2023-23973 is categorized under CAPEC-62 Cross Site Request Forgery. This vulnerability may lead to unauthorized activities being performed on the affected website, potentially compromising user data and system integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-23973

In this section, we delve into the technical aspects of the CVE-2023-23973 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the a3rev Software Contact Us Page – Contact People plugin version <= 3.7.0 allows for Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attacks, enabling malicious actors to forge requests leading to unauthorized actions.

Affected Systems and Versions

The specific affected system identified is the a3rev Software Contact Us Page – Contact People plugin version <= 3.7.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of CVE-2023-23973 involves leveraging the CSRF vulnerability in the plugin to manipulate user actions without their consent, potentially compromising the security of the website.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are the steps to mitigate the CVE-2023-23973 vulnerability and prevent further exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update the a3rev Software Contact Us Page – Contact People plugin to version 3.7.1 or higher to mitigate the CSRF vulnerability.
Implement security best practices to protect against CSRF attacks, such as using anti-CSRF tokens and validating user actions.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update plugins and software to ensure the latest security patches are applied promptly.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities in the website's components.

Patching and Updates

It is crucial to stay informed about security updates and patches released by the plugin vendor to address vulnerabilities promptly.
Timely installation of security patches can help enhance the security posture of the website and prevent potential exploitation of vulnerabilities.

By following these mitigation and prevention measures, website owners can safeguard their systems against the CVE-2023-23973 vulnerability and enhance overall cybersecurity.