CVE-2023-37981 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

WordPress Authors List Plugin <= 2.0.2 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS).

Understanding CVE-2023-37981

This CVE identifies a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Authors List plugin for WordPress versions up to 2.0.2.

What is CVE-2023-37981?

CVE-2023-37981 refers to an Unauthenticated Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) security flaw present in the WPKube Authors List WordPress plugin. This vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

The Impact of CVE-2023-37981

The impact of this CVE is rated as high severity with a CVSS base score of 7.1. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of a user's browser, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-37981

This section provides technical details related to the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows unauthenticated attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts in the context of vulnerable web pages, leading to potential XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects WPKube Authors List plugin versions up to 2.0.2.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting crafted script code into input fields, which is then executed within the browsers of users viewing the affected pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

It is crucial to take immediate action to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-37981.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update the WPKube Authors List plugin to version 2.0.3 or higher to address and prevent the XSS vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement security best practices such as input validation and output encoding to mitigate XSS risks in web applications.

Patching and Updates

Regularly update plugins, themes, and software to ensure that known vulnerabilities are patched and your WordPress installation remains secure.