CVE-2023-23892 in M Chart Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/24/2023
Auth. (contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Jamie Poitra M Chart plugin <= 1.9.4 versions.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2023
The CVE-2023-23892 vulnerability represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the M Chart plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 1.9.4. This issue specifically targets users with contributor privileges or higher, making it particularly concerning for websites that allow user-generated content or collaborative editing environments. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, allowing authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database. The affected plugin, developed by Jamie Poitra, is widely used for creating charts and visualizations within WordPress environments, making it a potentially significant vector for attack exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before storing it in the database and subsequently rendering it in web pages. This stored XSS flaw allows malicious actors with contributor-level access or higher to inject JavaScript code through various input fields within the chart creation interface. When other users view the affected charts, the malicious scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79, which classifies it as a cross-site scripting weakness, specifically a stored variant where the malicious input is permanently stored and then executed without proper sanitization. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because the malicious code persists across multiple user sessions and can affect any user who views the compromised content.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-23892 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with opportunities for advanced persistent threats within the compromised WordPress environment. Once executed, the stored XSS payload can be used to steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information from authenticated users. Attackers may also leverage this vulnerability to redirect users to phishing sites or to modify content displayed on the website. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges, making it particularly attractive to threat actors who may have gained contributor-level access through social engineering, credential compromise, or other attack vectors. This makes the vulnerability especially concerning for websites that maintain multiple user roles with varying levels of access, as it provides a pathway for privilege escalation or data exfiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-23892 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the stored XSS vulnerability, as the original affected versions contain no built-in protections against this specific attack vector. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms, particularly for user-generated content within WordPress plugins. Security monitoring should include regular checks for unauthorized modifications to chart data or content, as well as review of user activity logs for suspicious behavior patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering, as attackers may use XSS to capture user sessions or credentials. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins or themes that may present similar stored XSS risks, particularly those handling user input in web applications.