CVE-2023-5911 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-5911 article provides an overview of the WP Custom Cursors <= 3.2 vulnerability, highlighting its impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.

Understanding CVE-2023-5911

The WP Custom Cursors <= 3.2 vulnerability, categorized as a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) flaw (CWE-79), affects the WP Custom Cursors | WordPress Cursor Plugin WordPress plugin through version 3.2. It allows high privilege users, such as admins, to execute malicious scripts despite restrictions.

What is CVE-2023-5911?

The WP Custom Cursors | WordPress Cursor Plugin WordPress plugin version 3.2 fails to properly sanitize and escape certain settings data. This oversight enables privileged users to launch Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks, even if restrictions like unfiltered_html capability prohibition are in place (e.g., within a multisite setup).

The Impact of CVE-2023-5911

The vulnerability poses a significant risk as it grants unauthorized users the ability to inject malicious scripts into the target WordPress site. This can lead to various malicious activities, such as data theft, unauthorized access, and further compromise of the affected system.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5911

The following sections delve deeper into the vulnerability's technical aspects, including its description, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and potential mitigation strategies.

Vulnerability Description

The WP Custom Cursors | WordPress Cursor Plugin version 3.2 lacks adequate sanitization and escape mechanisms for certain settings data, permitting admin-level users to execute Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

The WP Custom Cursors | WordPress Cursor Plugin version 3.2 and below are susceptible to this vulnerability, impacting WordPress websites that utilize this specific plugin.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the inadequate data sanitization in the WP Custom Cursors plugin, authenticated admin users can embed malicious scripts within the site's settings, leading to the execution of unauthorized actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-5911 and safeguard WordPress sites from potential exploits, it is crucial to implement immediate security measures as well as adopt long-term prevention strategies.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or remove the WP Custom Cursors plugin version 3.2 to prevent further exploitation.
Regularly monitor for any suspicious activities or unauthorized changes within the site's settings.

Long-Term Security Practices

Conduct regular security audits and assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Educate users on secure coding practices, emphasizing the importance of data sanitization and input validation.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates released by plugin developers and promptly apply patches to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
Consider employing web application firewalls or security plugins to enhance overall website security posture.