CVE-2023-0076 in Download Attachments Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2023
The Download Attachments WordPress plugin through 1.2.24 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 • 03/31/2023
The CVE-2023-0076 vulnerability resides within the Download Attachments WordPress plugin version 1.2.24 and earlier, presenting a significant security risk through stored cross-site scripting attacks. This flaw specifically targets the plugin's handling of shortcode attributes, where insufficient validation and escaping mechanisms allow malicious actors to inject persistent scripts into WordPress pages and posts. The vulnerability affects users with the contributor role and above, indicating that even relatively low-privilege accounts can exploit this weakness to compromise the entire WordPress installation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input sanitization within the plugin's shortcode processing logic. When administrators or contributors embed download attachments shortcodes into posts or pages, the plugin fails to adequately validate and escape user-supplied attributes before rendering them in the output HTML. This creates an environment where malicious scripts can be stored within the WordPress database and subsequently executed whenever the affected page is viewed by any user, including administrators. The flaw operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-79, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. Since contributors and above can exploit this vulnerability, it represents a particularly dangerous threat vector because these roles often have access to sensitive content management features. Attackers could potentially harvest administrator cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malware payloads through the stored XSS mechanism. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts remain active until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with sustained access to the compromised WordPress environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0076 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the validation and escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures at multiple levels, including server-side sanitization of all shortcode attributes and proper HTML escaping before output rendering. Security headers such as Content Security Policy should be configured to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts, and regular security audits of WordPress plugins should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, privilege escalation controls should be reviewed to ensure that users with contributor roles cannot perform actions that might introduce security risks into the system. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in web applications and underscores the need for robust security practices in content management systems.