CVE-2023-4774 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability has been identified in the WP-Matomo Integration (WP-Piwik) plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 1.0.28. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level and above permissions to inject arbitrary web scripts, posing a risk to websites utilizing this plugin.

Understanding CVE-2023-4774

The vulnerability in the WP-Matomo Integration (WP-Piwik) plugin for WordPress allows for Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks via the 'wp-piwik' shortcode due to inadequate input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied attributes.

What is CVE-2023-4774?

CVE-2023-4774 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability found in the WP-Matomo Integration (WP-Piwik) plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 1.0.28. Attackers with specific permissions can inject malicious web scripts, potentially leading to unauthorized actions on the affected websites.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4774

The impact of this vulnerability lies in the ability of authenticated attackers to insert arbitrary web scripts through the 'wp-piwik' shortcode, which can be executed when users access compromised pages. This could result in various malicious activities and compromise the security of the affected WordPress websites.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4774

The following technical details shed light on the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied attributes in the 'wp-piwik' shortcode of the WP-Matomo Integration (WP-Piwik) plugin for WordPress. This flaw enables attackers to inject malicious web scripts with elevated permissions.

Affected Systems and Versions

The WP-Matomo Integration (WP-Piwik) plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 1.0.28 are susceptible to this Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability. Websites utilizing these versions are at risk of exploitation by authenticated attackers with contributor-level and above permissions.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the inadequate input sanitization and output escaping in the 'wp-piwik' shortcode, attackers with the necessary permissions can insert and execute arbitrary web scripts on compromised pages. This could lead to severe security breaches and compromise website integrity.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-4774 and mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability, immediate action and long-term security measures are recommended.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should consider temporarily disabling the WP-Matomo Integration (WP-Piwik) plugin until a patch or update is available. Additionally, monitoring user permissions and scrutinizing user input can help prevent malicious script injections.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing robust input validation and output encoding practices can help mitigate the risk of Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in WordPress plugins. Regular security audits and staying informed about plugin updates are essential for maintaining website security.

Patching and Updates

It is vital to apply patches and updates released by the plugin developer as soon as they become available. Ensuring that the WP-Matomo Integration (WP-Piwik) plugin is running the latest secure version can prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-4774.