CVE-2023-4773 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-4773 article provides insights into a specific vulnerability found in the WordPress Social Login plugin, affecting versions up to and including 3.0.4. The vulnerability, categorized under CWE-79, allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher to execute arbitrary web scripts via Stored Cross-Site Scripting.

Understanding CVE-2023-4773

In this section, we will delve deeper into the nature and impact of CVE-2023-4773.

What is CVE-2023-4773?

CVE-2023-4773 refers to a vulnerability in the WordPress Social Login plugin, wherein insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied attributes allow attackers to inject malicious scripts.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4773

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it can be exploited by authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher to inject and execute arbitrary web scripts on pages accessed by users.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4773

Here, we will explore the core technical aspects of CVE-2023-4773, including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the WordPress Social Login plugin leads to Stored Cross-Site Scripting through the 'wordpress_social_login_meta' shortcode, enabling attackers to inject malicious scripts due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects versions up to and including 3.0.4 of the WordPress Social Login plugin, exposing systems where this specific version is installed to the risk of exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

Authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or above can take advantage of the CVE-2023-4773 vulnerability to inject arbitrary web scripts, causing them to execute when users visit compromised pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we will discuss the steps that can be taken to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-4773 and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update the WordPress Social Login plugin to a secure version beyond 3.0.4 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Implement strict input validation and output escaping practices to prevent Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor security advisories and update systems promptly to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential weaknesses in web applications.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches released by plugin developers and apply them promptly to reduce the risk of exploitation.
Consider implementing a web application firewall (WAF) to add an additional layer of defense against XSS and other web-based attacks.