CVE-2023-45008 : Security Advisory and Response

WordPress Comment Reply Email Plugin <= 1.0.3 is vulnerable to Cross Site Scripting (XSS).

Understanding CVE-2023-45008

This CVE identifies a stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WPJohnny Comment Reply Email plugin version 1.0.3 and below.

What is CVE-2023-45008?

A stored XSS vulnerability allows an attacker to inject malicious scripts that are permanently stored on the target system.

The Impact of CVE-2023-45008

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as medium with a CVSS base score of 5.9. An attacker with high privileges can execute arbitrary scripts leading to potential data theft or system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-45008

This section provides an in-depth look into the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the WPJohnny Comment Reply Email plugin version 1.0.3 and below allows authenticated (admin+) users to store malicious scripts, leading to XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Comment Reply Email
Vendor: WPJohnny
Affected Versions: <= 1.0.3

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by authenticated users with admin+ privileges to store malicious scripts in user inputs, enabling XSS attacks.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2023-45008, immediate steps and long-term security practices are essential.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the WPJohnny Comment Reply Email plugin to version 1.0.4 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and update plugins to patch known security issues.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for all installed plugins and apply patches promptly to prevent exploitation.