CVE-2023-28367 in VK All in One Expansion Unit Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/23/2023
Cross-site scripting vulnerability in CTA post function of VK All in One Expansion Unit 9.88.1.0 and earlier allows a remote authenticated attacker to inject an arbitrary script.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-28367 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the VK All in One Expansion Unit plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions 9.88.1.0 and earlier. This issue resides within the CTA post function, which is designed to handle call-to-action elements in the plugin's user interface. The vulnerability enables a remote authenticated attacker to inject arbitrary scripts into the application's response, potentially compromising user sessions and executing malicious code in the context of a victim's browser. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's core functionality, creating an attack surface where user-supplied data is not properly escaped before being rendered back to users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws occurring when untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper validation or escaping. The vulnerability is classified as an authenticated XSS attack because it requires a valid user account with appropriate privileges to exploit the flaw, typically targeting users with administrative or editor roles within the WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute malicious scripts in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized modifications to the website content. The attack vector specifically targets the CTA post functionality, suggesting that any content submitted through this interface could be manipulated to include malicious payloads.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-28367 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with potential access to sensitive administrative functions and user data within the WordPress environment. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to user accounts, modify website content, or potentially escalate privileges within the affected WordPress installation. The vulnerability also poses risks to the broader WordPress ecosystem, as compromised sites could become part of botnets or be used as launching points for further attacks against other systems. The authenticated nature of the attack means that attackers must first obtain valid credentials, but once obtained, they can leverage this vulnerability to perform persistent attacks that may remain undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to versions that address the XSS flaw. Users should prioritize updating the VK All in One Expansion Unit plugin to the latest available version that contains patches for this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase would prevent similar issues in the future. Security measures should include regular security audits of WordPress plugins, maintaining updated security monitoring tools, and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls and multi-factor authentication to reduce the potential impact of credential compromise. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party components and adhering to secure coding practices that prevent injection vulnerabilities as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and MITRE ATT&CK framework categories related to web application security.