CVE-2023-0075 in Amazon JS Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/13/2023
The Amazon JS WordPress plugin through 0.10 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 • 03/12/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0075 affects the Amazon JS WordPress plugin version 0.10 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through stored cross-site scripting flaws. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode implementation, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of shortcode attributes, where user-supplied data is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to the browser, establishing a pathway for malicious code injection.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to implement proper sanitization routines for shortcode parameters, which are commonly used to configure plugin behavior within WordPress posts and pages. When administrators or contributors embed Amazon product shortcodes containing malicious payloads, these inputs are stored in the database without adequate validation. The vulnerability affects users with the contributor role and higher privileges, indicating that even relatively low-privilege accounts can exploit this weakness, making it particularly concerning for WordPress installations with multiple user roles. This stored XSS vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised WordPress environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0075 extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to manipulate the WordPress environment in ways that can persist across multiple user sessions. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that malicious code remains embedded in the database and executes whenever affected pages are loaded, making detection more challenging and the attack surface broader. This weakness can be leveraged to escalate privileges, steal cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or even install additional malware through browser-based attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a fundamental web application security flaw, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege since it allows users with contributor-level access to perform actions typically restricted to higher-privilege roles.
Security mitigations for CVE-2023-0075 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the input validation and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures that properly escape all user-supplied data before rendering it in HTML contexts, particularly focusing on attributes used within shortcode implementations. The remediation process should include validating all shortcode parameters against whitelisted values and implementing proper HTML escaping routines to prevent malicious code from executing. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing role-based access controls that limit contributor-level users from embedding potentially dangerous shortcode attributes, while monitoring for suspicious shortcode usage patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping as fundamental security practices that align with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers the exploitation of web application vulnerabilities to establish initial access or escalate privileges within compromised systems.