CVE-2023-4476 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE record details a vulnerability identified as a reflected cross-site scripting (XSS) in the Locatoraid Store Locator WordPress plugin version less than 3.9.24.

Understanding CVE-2023-4476

This section will delve into the nature of CVE-2023-4476, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-4476?

CVE-2023-4476 refers to a vulnerability in the Locatoraid Store Locator WordPress plugin where the lpr-search parameter is not sanitized, potentially leading to reflected cross-site scripting attacks. Exploiting this vulnerability could pose a risk to high privilege users like administrators.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4476

The impact of CVE-2023-4476 is significant as it allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary script code in the context of a user's browser, leading to various attacks such as session hijacking, defacement, and cookie stealing.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4476

In this section, we will explore the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from the Locatoraid Store Locator WordPress plugin failing to properly sanitize the lpr-search parameter, enabling attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts on the affected site.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Locatoraid Store Locator plugin versions prior to 3.9.24 are impacted by this vulnerability. Users utilizing versions below this specified version are susceptible to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious actors can exploit CVE-2023-4476 by crafting a malicious URL containing the payload and tricking a high privilege user, such as an admin, to click on the link. Once clicked, the injected scripts execute within the user's browser context.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems against CVE-2023-4476, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and the importance of patching and updates are crucial.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators are advised to update the Locatoraid Store Locator plugin to version 3.9.24 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, input sanitization and output encoding should be implemented to prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing regular security audits, educating staff on cybersecurity best practices, and staying informed about plugin vulnerabilities are essential long-term security measures to enhance overall protection against threats.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security updates, promptly applying patches, and maintaining up-to-date software versions are vital steps to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-4476.