CVE-2023-4995 : What You Need to Know

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the Embed Calendly plugin for WordPress that allows for Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks, affecting versions up to and including 3.6. Attackers with contributor-level permissions or above can inject malicious scripts, leading to arbitrary code execution when a user visits the compromised page.

Understanding CVE-2023-4995

The vulnerability in the Embed Calendly plugin poses a risk to WordPress websites, allowing attackers to execute malicious scripts through the 'calendly' shortcode due to inadequate input sanitization and output escaping.

What is CVE-2023-4995?

CVE-2023-4995 refers to a Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability in the Embed Calendly plugin for WordPress, enabling authenticated attackers to inject harmful web scripts into pages, leading to potential code execution upon user interaction.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4995

The impact of CVE-2023-4995 is significant as it allows attackers to compromise the integrity and security of WordPress websites by injecting malicious scripts that can harm users accessing the infected pages.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4995

The technical details of this CVE include specific information on the vulnerability, affected systems, and the mechanism through which the exploitation occurs.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the Embed Calendly plugin arises from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping, enabling attackers to insert malicious scripts via the 'calendly' shortcode, which can execute when users visit compromised pages.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected system is the Embed Calendly plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 3.6. Websites using these versions are susceptible to the Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with contributor-level permissions or above can exploit the CVE-2023-4995 vulnerability by inserting malicious scripts via the 'calendly' shortcode, manipulating user-supplied attributes to execute arbitrary code on compromised pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

Addressing and mitigating the CVE-2023-4995 vulnerability involves taking immediate action to secure affected systems and implementing long-term security practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should update the Embed Calendly plugin to a patched version immediately to mitigate the vulnerability. Additionally, monitoring website activity for suspicious behavior can help detect potential exploitation attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strict input validation and output encoding practices, conducting regular security audits, and educating users about safe browsing habits are essential long-term security measures to prevent Cross-Site Scripting attacks on WordPress websites.

Patching and Updates

Developers of the Embed Calendly plugin should release a security patch addressing the input sanitization and output escaping issues to prevent Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities in future versions. Website administrators should promptly apply these patches to secure their WordPress installations.