CVE-2023-4890 : What You Need to Know

This CVE identifies a vulnerability in the JQuery Accordion Menu Widget plugin for WordPress, with versions up to and including 3.1.2, which can be exploited by authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts through Stored Cross-Site Scripting.

Understanding CVE-2023-4890

The vulnerability in the JQuery Accordion Menu Widget plugin poses a risk to WordPress websites by allowing attackers with contributor-level and above permissions to inject malicious scripts into pages, potentially compromising user data and website integrity.

What is CVE-2023-4890?

CVE-2023-4890 is a Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability found in the JQuery Accordion Menu Widget plugin for WordPress, enabling authenticated attackers to insert harmful web scripts through the 'dcwp-jquery-accordion' shortcode due to ineffective input sanitization and output escaping.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4890

The impact of this vulnerability lies in the unauthorized execution of scripts on compromised pages, leading to potential data theft, session hijacking, defacement, or other malicious activities by exploiting the lack of proper sanitization mechanisms.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4890

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 (Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation - Cross-site Scripting) with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.4, categorizing it as a medium severity issue.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the 'dcwp-jquery-accordion' shortcode, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary web scripts within affected WordPress pages.

Affected Systems and Versions

The JQuery Accordion Menu Widget plugin versions up to and including 3.1.2 are susceptible to this vulnerability, impacting WordPress sites that have installed these specific plugin versions.

Exploitation Mechanism

An authenticated attacker with contributor-level and above permissions can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious web scripts within the plugin shortcode, which are then executed when users access compromised pages on the affected WordPress site.

Mitigation and Prevention

Website administrators and users are advised to take immediate action to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-4890 through a combination of short-term measures and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or uninstall the vulnerable JQuery Accordion Menu Widget plugin version.
Regularly monitor website activity for suspicious behavior or unauthorized changes.
Restrict user permissions to minimize the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Keep plugins and themes updated with the latest security patches.
Implement proper input validation and output encoding to prevent XSS vulnerabilities.
Educate users and administrators on best practices for maintaining website security.

Patching and Updates

Seek and apply available patches or updates provided by the plugin developer to address the vulnerability in the JQuery Accordion Menu Widget plugin, ensuring enhanced security and protection against potential exploits.