CVE-2023-0144 in Event Manager and Tickets Selling Plugin for WooCommerce
Summary
by MITRE • 02/06/2023
The Event Manager and Tickets Selling Plugin for WooCommerce WordPress plugin before 3.8.0 does not validate and escape some of its post meta before outputting them back in a page/post, 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 • 03/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0144 affects the Event Manager and Tickets Selling Plugin for WooCommerce WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 3.8.0. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks through improper input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. The vulnerability impacts WordPress environments where this specific plugin is installed and actively used for event management and ticket sales operations.
The technical flaw resides in the plugin's failure to properly validate and escape post meta data before rendering it back to users within web pages or posts. This occurs when contributors and users with higher privileges attempt to input malicious script content into post meta fields that are subsequently displayed without adequate sanitization. The vulnerability stems from a lack of proper data validation procedures and insufficient output escaping mechanisms that should normally be implemented to prevent malicious code execution in web browsers. This flaw allows attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that persists in the database and executes whenever the affected content is rendered to users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with the ability to perform persistent cross-site scripting attacks against unsuspecting users of the WordPress site. Contributors and above roles typically have the ability to create and modify posts, making this attack vector particularly dangerous as it requires minimal privilege escalation. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts remain active in the database and execute each time affected pages are loaded, potentially compromising user sessions, stealing cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or performing other harmful actions. This vulnerability undermines the security of the entire WordPress installation by creating a persistent attack surface within the plugin's functionality.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, commonly known as cross-site scripting. It also relates to the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers spearphishing through social media, as attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads through compromised user accounts. Organizations using this plugin are advised to immediately update to version 3.8.0 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation measures, conduct regular security audits of installed plugins, and consider implementing content security policies to mitigate the impact of similar vulnerabilities. The patch should include comprehensive sanitization of all user-provided meta data and proper escaping of output to prevent script execution in web contexts.
The remediation approach should involve immediate patch application to version 3.8.0 or higher of the Event Manager and Tickets Selling Plugin, along with comprehensive security monitoring to detect any potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also review other plugins for similar vulnerabilities, implement web application firewalls where appropriate, and maintain up-to-date security baselines for WordPress installations. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues across the entire WordPress ecosystem.