CVE-2023-40553 : Security Advisory and Response

WordPress Plausible Analytics Plugin version 1.3.3 and below are vulnerable to a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attack, allowing unauthorized users to execute malicious scripts on the victim's browser.

Understanding CVE-2023-40553

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in the Plausible Analytics plugin for WordPress versions up to 1.3.3 that can be exploited to perform a reflected XSS attack.

What is CVE-2023-40553?

The CVE-2023-40553 pertains to an unauthenticated reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Plausible Analytics plugin by Plausible.io, impacting versions equal to or less than 1.3.3.

The Impact of CVE-2023-40553

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a CVSS base score of 5.8, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary scripts on the target user's browser, leading to potential data theft, unauthorized actions, or further exploitation.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-40553

The vulnerability is associated with CWE-79 (Cross-Site Scripting) and falls under CAPEC-591 (Reflected XSS).

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the WordPress Plausible Analytics plugin allows for unauthenticated reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, permitting threat actors to inject and execute malicious scripts in a victim's browser.

Affected Systems and Versions

Plausible Analytics plugin versions up to 1.3.3 are susceptible to this vulnerability, with version 1.3.4 being the fix.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves crafting and submitting a specially crafted link containing malicious scripts to a target user, tricking them into executing the code through interaction.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-40553 and mitigate associated risks, immediate actions and long-term security practices are recommended.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update their Plausible Analytics plugin to version 1.3.4 or higher to fix the XSS vulnerability and prevent potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, maintaining up-to-date software versions, and regularly monitoring for security patches can help prevent such vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly check for security updates and apply patches promptly to ensure the latest security fixes are in place, protecting against known vulnerabilities.