CVE-2023-4620 : What You Need to Know

This article provides detailed information about CVE-2023-4620, a vulnerability found in the Booking Calendar WordPress plugin.

Understanding CVE-2023-4620

CVE-2023-4620 is classified as a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Booking Calendar plugin for WordPress. This vulnerability could be exploited by unauthenticated users to execute malicious scripts on the target website.

What is CVE-2023-4620?

The Booking Calendar WordPress plugin versions prior to 9.7.3.1 are susceptible to an Unauthenticated Stored XSS vulnerability. This vulnerability arises from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape certain booking form data, enabling attackers to inject malicious scripts that can be executed in the context of the admin user's session.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4620

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows malicious actors to execute arbitrary code, steal sensitive information, and perform various harmful actions on the affected WordPress site. This could lead to account takeover, data theft, defacement, and other security breaches.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4620

This section outlines specific technical aspects of the CVE-2023-4620 vulnerability in the Booking Calendar WordPress plugin.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from a lack of input validation and proper sanitization of user-supplied data in the booking form fields, making it possible for attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts in the context of an administrator.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Booking Calendar plugin versions prior to 9.7.3.1 are confirmed to be affected by this vulnerability. Users of these versions are at risk of exploitation if adequate security measures are not implemented.

Exploitation Mechanism

By submitting specially crafted input in the booking form fields, unauthenticated users can inject malicious scripts that get stored in the database. When an admin accesses the compromised page, the script is executed in their session, leading to potential unauthorized actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2023-4620 and similar vulnerabilities, it is crucial to follow best security practices and take necessary preventive measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Booking Calendar plugin to version 9.7.3.1 or newer to patch the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor and review user-generated content and inputs on the website to detect any potentially harmful scripts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS attacks.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address any security loopholes in the system.

Patching and Updates

WordPress plugin users are advised to stay informed about security updates and promptly apply patches released by plugin developers to mitigate the risk of exploitation arising from known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-4620.