CVE-2023-3087 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2023-3087 involves a vulnerability in the FluentSMTP plugin for WordPress, which allows for Stored Cross-Site Scripting via an email subject. This can be exploited by unauthenticated attackers to inject malicious web scripts into pages.

Understanding CVE-2023-3087

This section provides an overview of what CVE-2023-3087 entails, including its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-3087?

CVE-2023-3087 is a vulnerability found in the FluentSMTP plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 2.2.4. The issue arises due to inadequate input sanitization and output escaping, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary scripts on vulnerable pages.

The Impact of CVE-2023-3087

The impact of CVE-2023-3087 is rated as HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.2. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks, potentially leading to unauthorized script execution and manipulation of user interactions on affected websites.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-3087

In this section, we delve into the specific technical aspects of CVE-2023-3087, including the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the FluentSMTP plugin allows for Stored Cross-Site Scripting, where unauthenticated attackers can insert malicious scripts in email subjects. These scripts can be executed when users access the compromised pages, leading to security breaches and unauthorized actions.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts FluentSMTP versions up to and including 2.2.4. Users with these versions installed are at risk of exploitation unless appropriate mitigation measures are implemented.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the FluentSMTP plugin, attackers can craft specially-crafted email subjects containing malicious scripts. When these emails are viewed by users, the injected scripts are executed within the context of the webpage, allowing for unauthorized actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-3087 and enhance security posture, organizations and users must take immediate steps, adopt long-term security practices, and apply the necessary patches and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or uninstall the vulnerable FluentSMTP plugin if not required for essential functionality.
Implement a web application firewall to mitigate potential Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks.
Educate users and administrators about phishing attempts and suspicious email content.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update plugins and themes to the latest versions to prevent vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential weaknesses.
Enforce secure coding practices to minimize the risk of XSS and other injection attacks.

Patching and Updates

Users of FluentSMTP are advised to update to version 2.2.5 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched. Applying software updates promptly helps mitigate security risks and ensures a more secure online environment.