CVE-2023-0071 in WP Tabs Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/30/2023
The WP Tabs WordPress plugin before 2.1.17 does not validate and escape some of its shortcode attributes before outputting them back in a page/post where the shortcode is embed, which could allow users with the contributor role and above to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2025
The WP Tabs WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2023-0071 represents a critical security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks through improper input validation and sanitization. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 2.1.17 and specifically targets the plugin's shortcode attribute handling mechanism. The flaw exists in the plugin's processing of user-provided data within shortcode parameters, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into WordPress posts and pages where the shortcode is embedded. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows users with the contributor role and above to exploit this weakness, indicating that even relatively low-privilege accounts can leverage this flaw for malicious purposes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and validate shortcode attributes before rendering them in the browser context. When administrators or contributors create content using the WP Tabs plugin shortcode, the plugin accepts user input without adequate filtering or escaping mechanisms. This creates a stored XSS scenario where malicious scripts are permanently stored within the WordPress database and executed whenever the affected page is viewed by other users. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's handling of attributes that are directly output to the HTML context without proper HTML entity encoding or script sanitization. This type of flaw falls under CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and more specifically CWE-80 which addresses the improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags in a web page.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0071 extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within WordPress installations. Once exploited, malicious scripts can perform various harmful actions including credential theft, session hijacking, defacement of content, and redirection to malicious websites. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous for website administrators who may not immediately detect the compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to target not just the plugin users but potentially all visitors to pages containing the compromised shortcode, creating a wide attack surface. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the use of malicious content in web applications, and specifically addresses the execution of arbitrary code through web application flaws.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately update to WP Tabs plugin version 2.1.17 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation issues. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring to detect any unauthorized modifications to pages containing the affected shortcode attributes. The patch should include proper sanitization of all shortcode parameters using WordPress's built-in escaping functions such as esc_attr() and esc_html() to prevent script injection. Security teams should conduct thorough audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities and implement comprehensive input validation across all user-facing attributes. Additionally, implementing content security policies and regular security scanning of WordPress installations can help detect and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.