CVE-2023-25061 in Arigato Autoresponder and Newsletter Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2023
Auth. (contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Kiboko Labs Arigato Autoresponder and Newsletter plugin <= 2.7.1.1 versions.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/24/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-25061 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Kiboko Labs Arigato Autoresponder and Newsletter plugin for WordPress systems. This security weakness affects versions up to and including 2.7.1.1, where authenticated users with contributor level access or higher can potentially exploit the vulnerability to inject malicious scripts into the application's database. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape user-supplied content before storing and rendering it within the web interface. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's handling of user-generated content within newsletter and autoresponder functionalities, creating a persistent threat vector that can affect all users who view the compromised content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows authenticated attackers to leverage their privileges to store malicious JavaScript code within the plugin's database tables. When other users access pages containing the stored malicious content, the injected scripts execute in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the improper handling of untrusted data within web applications. The flaw operates as a server-side storage mechanism where the malicious payload persists in the database and executes during subsequent page loads, distinguishing it from reflected XSS attacks that require user interaction with malicious links. Attackers can craft payloads that exploit the plugin's form handling and content management features to achieve persistent script execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a potential attack surface for more sophisticated threats within WordPress environments. Contributors and higher-level users who have access to the plugin's administrative interfaces can leverage this vulnerability to compromise the entire WordPress installation or target specific users within the organization. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with extended persistence opportunities. This type of vulnerability can facilitate privilege escalation attacks, where attackers might use the XSS to gain additional access rights or extract sensitive information from the WordPress system. The vulnerability also affects the integrity and availability of the newsletter and autoresponder functionality, potentially disrupting legitimate business operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-25061 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the stored XSS vulnerability, as recommended by the plugin vendor and security advisories. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures and output encoding for all user-supplied content within the plugin's interfaces, following the principle of least privilege to limit contributor-level access to sensitive administrative functions. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous script execution patterns and unauthorized content modifications. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of WordPress plugins and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 for phishing and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, emphasizing the need for layered defensive measures including web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security audits of third-party WordPress components.