CVE-2023-2170 in TaxoPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/19/2023
The TaxoPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the Related Posts functionality in versions up to, and including, 3.6.4 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with Editor+ permissions to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2170 affects the TaxoPress plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 3.6.4. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress sites utilizing this plugin. The vulnerability manifests within the Related Posts functionality, which is a commonly used feature for enhancing user engagement by displaying relevant content. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization and insufficient output escaping mechanisms, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into the plugin's data handling processes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the category of stored cross-site scripting attacks as defined by CWE-079, which specifically addresses situations where web applications fail to properly escape output and validate input data. Attackers with Editor level permissions or higher can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious scripts that get stored within the plugin's database or configuration files. These scripts remain dormant until triggered by legitimate users accessing pages that contain the injected content, making the attack particularly insidious as it leverages the trust relationship between the website and its visitors. The vulnerability's persistence stems from the fact that the malicious code is stored server-side rather than being transmitted through a single request, allowing for repeated execution across multiple user sessions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary web scripts in the context of authenticated users. This means that compromised users could have their sessions hijacked, sensitive data extracted, or their browsers redirected to malicious sites. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only Editor level permissions, which are commonly granted to content creators and administrators within WordPress environments. This low privilege requirement significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability more accessible to threat actors who may have gained access through social engineering, credential theft, or other initial compromise techniques. The vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the use of credential harvesting and privilege escalation methods to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-2170 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization and escaping deficiencies. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect suspicious script injection patterns and consider implementing content security policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. Additionally, administrators should review user permissions and ensure that only trusted individuals possess Editor or higher privileges within their WordPress installations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output escaping as fundamental security practices that should be enforced throughout all web application development processes, particularly for plugins that handle user-generated content. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar weaknesses in other installed plugins and themes, as this represents a common pattern of security oversight in WordPress ecosystem components.