CVE-2023-5336 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-5336 was published by Wordfence on October 19, 2023. The vulnerability affects the iPanorama 360 – WordPress Virtual Tour Builder plugin for WordPress, allowing for SQL Injection attacks in versions up to and including 1.8.0. Authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher can exploit this vulnerability to extract sensitive information from the database.

Understanding CVE-2023-5336

This section dives deeper into the nature of the vulnerability, its impacts, technical details, and mitigation strategies associated with CVE-2023-5336.

What is CVE-2023-5336?

The CVE-2023-5336 vulnerability pertains to the iPanorama 360 – WordPress Virtual Tour Builder plugin for WordPress. It allows for SQL Injection attacks due to insufficient escaping on user-supplied parameters and inadequate preparation on existing SQL queries. Attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher can potentially append additional SQL queries to extract sensitive data.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5336

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH with a base score of 8.8. The exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information within the affected database, compromising the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5336

Understanding the specifics of the vulnerability is crucial for implementing effective mitigation strategies.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the iPanorama 360 – WordPress Virtual Tour Builder plugin arises from inadequate handling of user input, allowing for SQL Injection attacks. Attackers can manipulate the plugin's shortcode to inject malicious SQL queries into the database.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions up to and including 1.8.0 of the iPanorama 360 – WordPress Virtual Tour Builder plugin are affected by this vulnerability. Users of these versions are at risk of exploitation if proper security measures are not implemented.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the SQL Injection vulnerability in the plugin's shortcode, attackers with authenticated contributor-level permissions or higher can insert additional SQL queries to extract sensitive information from the database.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate action to address CVE-2023-5336 is crucial to protect systems and data from potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update the iPanorama 360 – WordPress Virtual Tour Builder plugin to a secure version beyond 1.8.0 to mitigate the SQL Injection vulnerability.
Implement strict input validation and parameterized queries to prevent SQL Injection attacks.
Monitor for any unauthorized access or suspicious activity in the database that may indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly review and update all plugins, themes, and WordPress core to the latest secure versions.
Conduct security audits and vulnerability assessments periodically to identify and address potential risks proactively.
Educate users and administrators on secure coding practices and the importance of maintaining up-to-date software.

Patching and Updates

Vendor patches and updates for the iPanorama 360 – WordPress Virtual Tour Builder plugin should be applied promptly to address known vulnerabilities and enhance overall security posture. Regularly check for security advisories and apply patches as soon as they are released to stay protected against emerging threats.