CVE-2023-6684 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE-2023-6684 involves a vulnerability in the Ibtana – WordPress Website Builder plugin for WordPress, allowing for Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks. Authenticated attackers with contributor level and above permissions can exploit this vulnerability in versions up to and including 1.2.2.

Understanding CVE-2023-6684

This section will delve into what CVE-2023-6684 is, its impacts, technical details, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-6684?

CVE-2023-6684 is a vulnerability found in the Ibtana – WordPress Website Builder plugin for WordPress. It enables authenticated attackers with certain permissions to inject malicious web scripts via the 'ive' shortcode, leading to a Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability.

The Impact of CVE-2023-6684

The impact of this vulnerability can be severe as it allows attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts that will execute whenever a user accesses an affected page. This could lead to unauthorized actions being performed on behalf of the user or the theft of sensitive information.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-6684

Let's discuss the technical aspects of CVE-2023-6684 including the vulnerability description, affected systems and versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on the 'width' and 'height' user-supplied attributes within the 'ive' shortcode. This oversight allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into pages.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Ibtana – WordPress Website Builder plugin versions up to and including 1.2.2 are impacted by this vulnerability. Users utilizing these versions are at risk of exploitation if proper measures are not taken.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the 'ive' shortcode and providing malicious input in the 'width' and 'height' attributes, attackers with contributor level and above permissions can conduct Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks, compromising the security of the WordPress website.

Mitigation and Prevention

Understanding how to mitigate and prevent CVE-2023-6684 is crucial to ensuring the security of WordPress websites using the Ibtana – WordPress Website Builder plugin.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update the Ibtana plugin to a patched version that addresses the vulnerability.
Monitor website activity for any signs of unauthorized script injections.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update all plugins and themes to their latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Educate users with elevated permissions on secure coding practices to prevent such attacks in the future.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the Ibtana – WordPress Website Builder plugin is updated to a version beyond 1.2.2, where the vulnerability has been addressed. Regularly check for updates and apply them promptly to enhance the security posture of the WordPress website.