CVE-2023-5621 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-5621 was published on October 18, 2023, by Wordfence. It involves a vulnerability in the Thumbnail Slider With Lightbox plugin for WordPress that allows for Stored Cross-Site Scripting.

Understanding CVE-2023-5621

This section will cover what CVE-2023-5621 entails, its impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

What is CVE-2023-5621?

The Thumbnail Slider With Lightbox plugin for WordPress is susceptible to Stored Cross-Site Scripting through the Image Title field in versions up to and including 1.0. This vulnerability arises due to inadequate input sanitization and output escaping. Attackers with administrator-level access can inject malicious web scripts that execute when users access the affected page. Noteworthy, this vulnerability only impacts multi-site installations and setups where unfiltered_html has been deactivated.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5621

The vulnerability poses a medium risk with a CVSS base score of 4.4. It allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary scripts on targeted pages, compromising the security and integrity of the WordPress website.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5621

Let's delve into the technical specifics of CVE-2023-5621.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the Thumbnail Slider With Lightbox plugin for WordPress, enabling attackers to execute stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks via the Image Title field.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected product is "Thumbnail Slider With Lightbox" by vendor "nik00726" up to version 1.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

Authenticated attackers with administrator-level access can exploit this vulnerability to inject and execute arbitrary web scripts on compromised pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

In response to CVE-2023-5621, consider the following mitigation strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Thumbnail Slider With Lightbox plugin to a version beyond 1.0 or implement the recommended security patches.
Monitor for any suspicious activities on the website that may indicate exploitation of the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and update all plugins and themes to the latest secure versions.
Enforce the principle of least privilege to limit user permissions and access.
Educate website administrators on secure coding practices and the risks associated with unfiltered input fields.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories and updates from plugin developers to promptly patch any identified vulnerabilities and enhance the overall security posture of the WordPress website.