CVE-2023-5413 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE record pertains to a vulnerability found in the Image horizontal reel scroll slideshow plugin for WordPress, allowing for Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks in versions up to and including 13.3.

Understanding CVE-2023-5413

This section will delve deeper into the nature of CVE-2023-5413, its impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-5413?

CVE-2023-5413 is a vulnerability present in the 'Image horizontal reel scroll slideshow' plugin for WordPress, which enables authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions and above to inject malicious web scripts using the 'ihrss-gallery' shortcode. This can lead to the execution of arbitrary scripts whenever a user accesses an affected page.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5413

The primary impact of this vulnerability is the potential for attackers to inject and execute unauthorized web scripts on affected WordPress pages. This could result in various security breaches, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised website.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5413

In this section, we will explore the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, as well as the exploitation mechanism associated with CVE-2023-5413.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied attributes within the 'ihrss-gallery' shortcode. This lack of proper validation allows attackers to embed malicious scripts that are executed in the context of the website.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Image horizontal reel scroll slideshow plugin versions up to and including 13.3 are vulnerable to this Stored Cross-Site Scripting issue. Websites utilizing these versions are at risk of exploitation if not promptly addressed.

Exploitation Mechanism

Authenticated attackers with contributor-level permissions or higher can exploit this vulnerability by injecting specially crafted payloads into the 'ihrss-gallery' shortcode. Once executed, these scripts can perform unauthorized actions on the compromised pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-5413, it is essential to implement immediate steps, adhere to long-term security practices, and apply necessary patches and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should immediately update the Image horizontal reel scroll slideshow plugin to a secure version that addresses this vulnerability.
Consider temporarily disabling the plugin if an update is not immediately available to prevent potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all installed plugins and themes to ensure they are running the latest secure versions.
Implement strict input validation and output escaping mechanisms within custom code to prevent Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Gopiplus, the vendor of the affected plugin, may release security patches to address CVE-2023-5413. Webmasters and site owners are advised to regularly check for updates and apply them promptly to protect their websites from potential attacks.