CVE-2023-23833 in Drop Shadow Boxes Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/25/2023
Auth. (contributor+) Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Steven Henty Drop Shadow Boxes plugin <= 1.7.10 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/18/2023
The CVE-2023-23833 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass issue within the Steven Henty Drop Shadow Boxes WordPress plugin, affecting versions up to and including 1.7.10. This vulnerability specifically targets users with contributor privileges or higher, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where content authors and editors have elevated permissions. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's administrative interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the system. The vulnerability is classified as a cross-site scripting attack, which allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of a victim's browser session. This particular vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and demonstrates how inadequate sanitization of user inputs can lead to severe security implications. The attack vector requires an authenticated user with contributor level permissions or higher, making it more accessible in environments where multiple users have administrative privileges or where privilege escalation occurs through other means.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the plugin's handling of user-submitted data in administrative contexts. When contributors or higher-privileged users interact with the plugin's interface, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape data before rendering it in web pages. This allows attackers to craft malicious payloads that get executed when other users view the affected content or administrative pages. The vulnerability manifests through parameters that accept user input without appropriate validation, enabling attackers to inject script tags or other malicious code that gets stored and subsequently executed in the browser of authenticated users. The XSS vulnerability operates in a stored context, meaning the malicious script is permanently saved on the server and executed whenever affected pages are loaded. This behavior is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers the exploitation of web applications through cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The attack requires minimal privileges but can result in significant compromise of user sessions and potential data exfiltration.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-23833 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive information, or even escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. An attacker with contributor access can potentially manipulate content, inject malicious code into posts or pages, and execute arbitrary commands on behalf of authenticated users. This vulnerability poses particular risk in business environments where contributors might have access to sensitive data or where the plugin is used in conjunction with other vulnerable components. The exploitation can lead to complete compromise of user accounts, data theft, and potential lateral movement within the WordPress installation. Organizations using this plugin without immediate patching are vulnerable to persistent attacks where malicious scripts can remain undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability also affects the integrity of the WordPress administrative interface, potentially allowing attackers to modify plugin settings or access restricted administrative functions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-23833 should prioritize immediate patching of the Steven Henty Drop Shadow Boxes plugin to version 1.7.11 or later, which contains the necessary security fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring of plugin updates and maintain updated security patches across all WordPress installations. Network segmentation and privilege restriction measures can help limit the impact if exploitation occurs, ensuring that even if one user account is compromised, attackers cannot escalate privileges or access other critical systems. Regular security audits should include checks for outdated plugins and themes, as well as proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms. Implementing content security policies and using security headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization and output encoding practices, as recommended by OWASP and other security standards, ensuring that all user-supplied data is properly validated before being rendered in web contexts. Regular security training for administrators and content creators can help prevent exploitation through social engineering or privilege abuse scenarios.