CVE-2023-28693 in Advanced Youtube Channel Pagination Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/17/2023
Unauth. Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Balasaheb Bhise Advanced Youtube Channel Pagination plugin <= 1.0 version.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2026
This vulnerability represents an unauthenticated reflected cross-site scripting flaw that exists within the Balasaheb Bhise Advanced Youtube Channel Pagination plugin version 1.0 and earlier. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into web pages viewed by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability occurs when user-supplied parameters are directly reflected back into the web page response without proper sanitization, creating an avenue for attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of the victim's browser.
The technical implementation of this flaw typically involves the plugin processing GET or POST parameters that are not adequately validated or escaped before being rendered in HTML output. When a user visits a page utilizing the vulnerable plugin with maliciously crafted input, the script code becomes embedded within the page content and executes automatically when other users access the same page. This reflective nature means the attack payload is delivered via a crafted URL or form submission that the victim must click or interact with to trigger the execution. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers the use of malicious links in phishing attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to steal user sessions, deface websites, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites. An attacker could craft payloads that steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive information from authenticated users who visit the compromised pages. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the attack requires user interaction but does not necessitate persistent exploitation, making it particularly dangerous for websites with high user traffic. This type of vulnerability is classified as a server-side vulnerability that can be exploited through client-side interactions, creating a significant risk for any website utilizing the affected plugin.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and output encoding practices throughout the plugin codebase. The recommended approach involves sanitizing all user-supplied input parameters using proper escaping functions before rendering them in HTML contexts. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against script injection attacks. The plugin developers should adopt secure coding practices such as using parameterized queries for database interactions and implementing proper HTTP headers to prevent XSS attacks. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify potential injection points, and developers should follow the principle of least privilege when processing user input. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping plugins updated and following security best practices for WordPress plugin development, as this type of flaw can be prevented through proper implementation of security controls at the development stage.