CVE-2023-23826 in Add Posts to Pages Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/10/2023
Auth. (contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Arsham Mirshah Add Posts to Pages plugin <= 1.4.1 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2023
The CVE-2023-23826 vulnerability represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Arsham Mirshah Add Posts to Pages WordPress plugin, affecting versions up to and including 1.4.1. This vulnerability specifically targets users with contributor level permissions or higher, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users have varying degrees of access control. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an exploitable condition where malicious scripts can be injected and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes user input through its post addition functionality without proper sanitization measures. Attackers with contributor privileges or higher can leverage this weakness by inserting malicious JavaScript code into post content or metadata fields that are then stored within the database. When other users with sufficient privileges view the affected pages or content, the stored script executes automatically in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the compromised systems. This stored XSS variant differs from reflected XSS as the malicious payload persists server-side and affects multiple users over time rather than being triggered by a single request.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, creating potential pathways for advanced persistent threats within WordPress environments. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, steal administrator credentials, or manipulate content in ways that could compromise entire websites. The vulnerability's accessibility to contributor-level users means that even relatively low-privilege attackers could exploit it, making it particularly concerning for sites with less stringent user access controls. Organizations running affected plugin versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, especially in environments where contributor accounts might be shared or compromised through social engineering attacks.
Security professionals should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest plugin version, implementing strict input validation mechanisms, and applying proper output encoding to all user-generated content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for the initial compromise through malicious content injection. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies, regular security audits of plugin installations, and maintaining comprehensive monitoring of user account activities for suspicious behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and restricting contributor-level permissions to minimize potential attack surface while maintaining operational functionality.