CVE-2023-5051 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-5051 pertains to a vulnerability found in the CallRail Phone Call Tracking plugin for WordPress, making it susceptible to Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Understanding CVE-2023-5051

This CVE involves a security flaw in the CallRail Phone Call Tracking plugin for WordPress that allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions to inject malicious web scripts via a shortcode, potentially compromising user data and system integrity.

What is CVE-2023-5051?

The vulnerability in the CallRail Phone Call Tracking plugin for WordPress, up to version 0.5.2, arises from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping on the 'form_id' user-supplied attribute. This flaw enables attackers to embed malicious scripts within pages that get executed when accessed by users.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5051

Given the nature of the vulnerability, threat actors can exploit CVE-2023-5051 to launch Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks, leading to unauthorized script execution and potential data manipulation, posing a significant risk to affected WordPress websites.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5051

This section covers key technical aspects related to CVE-2023-5051.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with contributor level and above permissions to inject arbitrary web scripts using the 'callrail_form' shortcode, impacting versions of the CallRail Phone Call Tracking plugin for WordPress up to and including 0.5.2.

Affected Systems and Versions

The CallRail Phone Call Tracking plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 0.5.2 are vulnerable to this Stored Cross-Site Scripting issue, while version 0.5.2 users are especially advised to take immediate action.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves leveraging the insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on the 'form_id' user-supplied attribute, allowing attackers to insert malicious scripts that execute when unsuspecting users visit affected pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address the CVE-2023-5051 vulnerability and enhance overall security posture, the following measures are recommended:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the CallRail Phone Call Tracking plugin for WordPress to a secure version that addresses the vulnerability.
Implement strict input validation and output escaping practices to prevent similar Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and monitor plugins for any security vulnerabilities.
Educate users and administrators about best practices for securing WordPress installations.

Patching and Updates

Stay vigilant for security updates released by plugin developers and promptly apply patches to ensure that known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-5051 are effectively mitigated.