CVE-2023-28792 in Continuous Image Carousel With Lightbox Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/07/2023
Unauth. Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in I Thirteen Web Solution Continuous Image Carousel With Lightbox plugin
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2023
The CVE-2023-28792 vulnerability represents an unauthorized reflected cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the I Thirteen Web Solution Continuous Image Carousel With Lightbox WordPress plugin. This security weakness specifically affects the plugin's handling of user-supplied input parameters, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability exists within the plugin's carousel functionality that processes image display parameters through URL query strings, making it accessible to attackers who can manipulate these inputs to deliver malicious payloads.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's core processing functions. When users interact with the carousel plugin, it accepts various parameters through HTTP GET requests that are directly incorporated into HTML output without proper encoding or validation. This reflected nature means that the malicious script is executed immediately by the victim's browser when they click on a specially crafted link containing the malicious payload. The vulnerability manifests when the plugin fails to sanitize parameters such as image identifiers, slide transitions, or display settings that are passed through URL parameters to the carousel rendering mechanism.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious websites. An attacker could craft a URL that, when clicked by an authenticated administrator or user, would execute JavaScript code to steal cookies, modify plugin settings, or redirect users to phishing sites. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that successful exploitation requires user interaction with a malicious link, but the attack can be delivered through various vectors including email campaigns, compromised websites, or social engineering tactics. This vulnerability particularly threatens WordPress administrators who may inadvertently click on malicious links, potentially compromising their entire WordPress installation.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-28792 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to the latest version that addresses the input validation issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive web application firewall rules that can detect and block malicious input patterns targeting known XSS vectors in WordPress plugins. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious traffic patterns and implement proper input sanitization at the application level. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and its exploitation patterns correspond to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of defense by restricting script execution and preventing unauthorized code injection attempts. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and maintaining updated security practices should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the web application stack.