CVE-2023-34377 in My Content Management Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2023
Auth. (admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Joseph C Dolson My Content Management plugin <= 1.7.6 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2023
The CVE-2023-34377 vulnerability represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the My Content Management plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 1.7.6. This vulnerability resides in the administrative functionality of the plugin, specifically targeting users with administrator privileges or higher. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's content management interface, which then executes in the context of other users' browsers when they access affected pages. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's handling of user-supplied content, creating a persistent vector for malicious code execution. The attack requires an attacker to possess administrative credentials or higher privileges within the WordPress environment, making it a privilege escalation concern within the existing access control framework.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input fields within the plugin's administrative interface where content is stored and later rendered to users. When administrators or higher-privileged users view pages containing the maliciously injected scripts, the stored XSS payload executes in their browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability manifests due to the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user input before storing it in the database, and subsequently failing to escape output when rendering content to end users. This represents a classic stored XSS pattern where the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and executed each time the affected content is accessed. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize input, and more specifically under CWE-80 as a stored cross-site scripting flaw.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-34377 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with persistent access to administrative functions and user data within the WordPress environment. An attacker with administrator privileges could leverage this vulnerability to modify content, steal sensitive information, manipulate user sessions, or even install backdoors for continued access. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with sustained access to compromised systems. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations where the My Content Management plugin is deployed, potentially compromising entire sites if administrators are not vigilant about input validation. The impact is amplified when considering that WordPress administrators often have elevated privileges and access to sensitive data, making this a high-risk vulnerability for organizations relying on the plugin.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-34377 require immediate action to upgrade the My Content Management plugin to version 1.7.7 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the stored XSS vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output escaping mechanisms across all plugin components, particularly those handling user-supplied content. Security monitoring should include regular scanning for vulnerable plugin versions and implementation of web application firewalls to detect and prevent XSS payloads. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing and T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage, as attackers may use this vulnerability to harvest session cookies and gain unauthorized access. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security audits of installed plugins can prevent exploitation, while maintaining updated security practices and vulnerability management procedures ensures ongoing protection against similar threats.