CVE-2023-5005 : What You Need to Know

This CVE, assigned by WPScan, pertains to a vulnerability in the Autocomplete Location field Contact Form 7 WordPress plugin before version 3.0 and the autocomplete-location-field-contact-form-7-pro WordPress plugin before version 2.0. The flaw could potentially lead to Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks, enabling high privilege users such as admins to execute malicious scripts even when certain capabilities are restricted.

Understanding CVE-2023-5005

This section delves into the essential aspects of CVE-2023-5005, shedding light on the vulnerability and its implications.

What is CVE-2023-5005?

CVE-2023-5005 involves a lack of proper sanitization and escape mechanisms in the affected WordPress plugins, allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious scripts.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5005

The vulnerability could be exploited by attackers with high privileges to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks, potentially compromising the security and integrity of the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5005

The technical overview of CVE-2023-5005 provides insights into the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The Autocomplete Location field Contact Form 7 WordPress plugin prior to version 3.0 and the autocomplete-location-field-contact-form-7-pro WordPress plugin before version 2.0 lack proper sanitization of settings, facilitating Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerable versions of the plugins include Autocomplete Location field Contact Form 7 versions less than 3.0 and Autocomplete Location field Contact Form 7 Pro versions less than 2.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers, including high privilege users, can exploit the vulnerability to inject and execute malicious scripts via specially crafted input, potentially leading to unauthorized actions on the affected systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

Addressing CVE-2023-5005 requires proactive measures to mitigate the risks and prevent exploitation of the vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators are advised to update the Autocomplete Location field Contact Form 7 and Autocomplete Location field Contact Form 7 Pro plugins to the latest secure versions to remediate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, regularly monitoring for security updates, and conducting vulnerability assessments can enhance the overall security posture of WordPress plugins and mitigate similar risks in the future.

Patching and Updates

Staying informed about security advisories and promptly applying patches released by plugin developers is crucial to safeguarding WordPress installations from known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-5005.