CVE-2023-0212 in Advanced Recent Posts Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2023
The Advanced Recent Posts WordPress plugin through 0.6.14 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0212 affects the Advanced Recent Posts WordPress plugin version 0.6.14 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk through stored cross-site scripting exploitation. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode implementation, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be leveraged by authenticated users possessing contributor-level privileges or higher. The vulnerability represents a classic weakness in web application security where user-supplied data is inadequately sanitized before being rendered back to users, enabling attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's handling of shortcode attributes, specifically failing to properly sanitize and escape parameters before incorporating them into HTML output within WordPress pages and posts. When administrators or contributors embed the advanced recent posts shortcode with malicious attributes, these unvalidated inputs become permanently stored within the WordPress database. Subsequently, when other users view pages containing this stored malicious content, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further compromise of the affected WordPress installation. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over extended periods.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0212 extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to manipulate the WordPress environment and potentially escalate their privileges within the compromised system. Attackers with contributor access can craft malicious shortcodes that, when embedded in posts or pages, create persistent XSS vulnerabilities that can be exploited by other users with varying permission levels. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79, which addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content, and T1059.001 for command and control through script execution. The vulnerability essentially provides attackers with a mechanism to establish a foothold within the WordPress environment that can be leveraged for further malicious activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0212 primarily focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that properly address the input validation and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect any suspicious shortcode usage or unauthorized content modifications within their WordPress installations. Access control measures should be reinforced to limit contributor-level permissions and ensure proper user role management, as the vulnerability requires at least contributor privileges to exploit effectively. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of defense against potential XSS exploitation, though this should not be considered a substitute for proper input validation. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes, along with maintaining up-to-date security practices and user education regarding safe content creation, remain essential components of a comprehensive defense strategy against this class of vulnerability.