CVE-2023-41733 : Security Advisory and Response

A Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability has been identified in the WordPress Back To The Top Button plugin version 2.1.5 and earlier, allowing unauthorized users to execute malicious scripts on the target website.

Understanding CVE-2023-41733

The vulnerability, with a CVSS base score of 5.9, poses a medium risk and requires high privileges to exploit. It falls under CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation.

What is CVE-2023-41733?

The CVE-2023-41733 vulnerability is an Authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) flaw in the YYDevelopment Back To The Top Button plugin version 2.1.5 and earlier. This allows attackers with admin or higher privileges to inject malicious scripts into the plugin, potentially compromising the website.

The Impact of CVE-2023-41733

The impact of this vulnerability is categorized under CAPEC-592: Stored XSS, where an attacker can execute arbitrary scripts in the context of an authenticated user, leading to various malicious activities such as data theft, website defacement, or cookie hijacking.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-41733

The CVE-2023-41733 vulnerability has the following technical details:

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with admin or higher privileges to store malicious scripts that can be executed in the browser of other users accessing the affected website.

Affected Systems and Versions

YYDevelopment Back To The Top Button plugin version 2.1.5 and prior are confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability requires admin or higher privileges to store the malicious scripts, which can then be executed when other users visit the vulnerable web page.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-41733, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the YYDevelopment Back To The Top Button plugin to a non-vulnerable version.
Monitor website traffic and look for any signs of unauthorized script execution.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update plugins and software to mitigate newly discovered vulnerabilities.
Implement proper input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches released by the plugin vendor and apply them promptly to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.