CVE-2023-4960 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2023-4960 was published on January 11, 2024, with a base score of 6.4, indicating a medium severity level. It affects the WCFM Marketplace plugin for WordPress, specifically versions up to and including 3.6.2. The vulnerability allows for stored cross-site scripting through the 'wcfm_stores' shortcode, enabling authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions to inject arbitrary web scripts into pages.

Understanding CVE-2023-4960

This section will delve into the details of the CVE-2023-4960 vulnerability, its impact, technical description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

What is CVE-2023-4960?

CVE-2023-4960 refers to a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability present in the WCFM Marketplace plugin for WordPress. Attackers with specific permissions can exploit this flaw to insert malicious scripts onto pages accessible to users.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4960

The vulnerability in versions up to 3.6.2 of the WCFM Marketplace plugin can be leveraged by authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts. This could lead to unauthorized access, data theft, or further compromise of the website.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4960

In this section, we will explore the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism in detail.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied attributes within the 'wcfm_stores' shortcode, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts into pages.

Affected Systems and Versions

The WCFM Marketplace plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 3.6.2 are impacted by CVE-2023-4960. Users utilizing these versions are at risk of exploitation by attackers with contributor-level permissions.

Exploitation Mechanism

Authenticated attackers with contributor-level and above permissions can exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious web scripts using the 'wcfm_stores' shortcode. These scripts execute whenever a user accesses the compromised page.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-4960 and enhance security measures, consider implementing the following mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the WCFM Marketplace plugin to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched.
Monitor user input and sanitize all attributes to prevent malicious script injection.
Restrict contributor-level permissions to minimize the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update plugins and software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and address any weaknesses in the WordPress environment.
Educate users on best security practices to prevent social engineering attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that all systems running the affected WCFM Marketplace plugin are updated to version 3.6.3 or above to eliminate the vulnerability and enhance overall security posture. Regularly check for plugin updates and apply them promptly to protect against potential threats.