CVE-2023-29097 in a3 Portfolio Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/14/2023
Auth. (author+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in a3rev Software a3 Portfolio plugin <= 3.1.0 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-29097 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the a3rev Software a3 Portfolio plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 3.1.0. This issue resides in the plugin's authentication handling mechanisms and allows authenticated users with author privileges or higher to execute malicious scripts in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's storage functionality where user input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited across multiple sessions.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from inadequate input validation and output encoding practices within the plugin's codebase. When authenticated users with author-level permissions create or modify portfolio items, their input is stored in the database without sufficient sanitization measures. Subsequently, when other users view these portfolio entries, the malicious scripts contained within the stored data execute in their browsers, potentially stealing session cookies, redirecting to malicious sites, or performing unauthorized actions on behalf of the victims. This vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and more precisely aligns with CWE-80 which deals with improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags in a web page.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. An attacker with author-level access can craft malicious payloads that will execute whenever any user views the affected portfolio items, potentially compromising multiple user accounts and leading to full administrative control of the affected WordPress installation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires minimal privileges to exploit and can affect any user who accesses the compromised portfolio content, making it a significant threat to website security and user privacy.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-29097 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 3.1.1 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the XSS vulnerability. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, implementation of web application firewalls, and enforcement of strict input validation policies. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1548.005 for Abuse of Functionality and T1566.001 for Spearphishing Attachment, as it represents an abuse of legitimate plugin functionality to execute malicious code and can be delivered through compromised portfolio content. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and establish monitoring protocols to detect unusual user behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.