CVE-2023-47516 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A detailed analysis of the Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in the Stark Digital Category Post List Widget plugin for WordPress that allows Stored XSS.

Understanding CVE-2023-47516

This CVE-2023-47516 refers to a security vulnerability in the Category Post List Widget plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to 2.0.

What is CVE-2023-47516?

The CVE-2023-47516 vulnerability in the Stark Digital Category Post List Widget plugin allows for Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks due to a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) weakness. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts on a victim's browser.

The Impact of CVE-2023-47516

The impact of CVE-2023-47516 is rated as HIGH with a CVSS base score of 7.1. This vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access, data tampering, and potentially complete system compromise.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-47516

This section outlines the specific technical details of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows malicious actors to conduct Stored XSS attacks by exploiting the CSRF weakness in the Category Post List Widget plugin.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Category Post List Widget versions from n/a through 2.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by tricking authenticated users into visiting a specially crafted web page, leading to the execution of malicious scripts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here are steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or remove the Category Post List Widget plugin if not essential.
Regularly monitor for official patches or updates from Stark Digital.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict input validation and output encoding practices in web applications.
Educate users about the risks of clicking on unsolicited links or visiting unknown websites.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates provided by Stark Digital for the Category Post List Widget plugin to address this vulnerability.