CVE-2023-26515 in Simple Slug Translate Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/16/2023
Auth. (admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Ko Takagi Simple Slug Translate plugin <= 2.7.2 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-26515 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Ko Takagi Simple Slug Translate WordPress plugin affecting versions 2.7.2 and earlier. This security issue resides in the plugin's handling of user input within administrative contexts, specifically when processing slug translations that are subsequently stored in the database. The vulnerability requires administrative privileges or higher to exploit, making it particularly concerning for WordPress sites where plugin administrators may have elevated access rights. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts are permanently saved within the application's database and executed whenever affected pages are loaded by other users, including administrators or regular site visitors who might access translated content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's administrative interface. When administrators or users with sufficient privileges enter translated slugs through the plugin's user interface, the application fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before storing it in the database. This allows malicious actors to inject malicious JavaScript code into the slug fields, which gets executed whenever the translated content is rendered on the website. The vulnerability is classified as CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to properly sanitize user-provided data that gets incorporated into web pages. This weakness commonly manifests when web applications dynamically generate content using user input without adequate validation or encoding mechanisms, creating opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-26515 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers with administrative access to perform various malicious activities within the compromised WordPress environment. Once exploited, the stored XSS vulnerability can facilitate session hijacking, where attackers steal administrator cookies and gain unauthorized access to the WordPress admin panel. The vulnerability also enables more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, where malicious scripts can capture login information submitted by users or administrators. Additionally, the attack can be leveraged for defacement of website content, data exfiltration, or as a stepping stone for further attacks within the network. The presence of such vulnerabilities in administrative plugins particularly increases the risk of complete system compromise, as administrators often have elevated privileges that can be exploited to gain deeper access to server resources or other connected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-26515 should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that address the stored XSS vulnerability. Administrators should ensure that all instances of the Ko Takagi Simple Slug Translate plugin are updated to versions 2.7.3 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched through proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output encoding practices should be enforced throughout the application, particularly for all user-provided data that gets stored and later rendered. Network segmentation and monitoring should be implemented to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, including unusual patterns of data access or modification. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of adhering to security best practices such as the principle of least privilege, where administrative access is limited to only those users who require it. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities, aligning with defensive strategies outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the application layer attack techniques. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.