CVE-2023-35048 in Booking and Rental Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/23/2023
Auth. (admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in MagePeople Team Booking and Rental Manager for Bike plugin
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/14/2023
The CVE-2023-35048 vulnerability represents a critical authentication bypass scenario within the MagePeople Team Booking and Rental Manager for Bike plugin, specifically targeting stored cross-site scripting flaws that require administrative privileges or higher access levels to exploit. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user input and data processing mechanisms, creating a persistent security risk that can affect administrators and privileged users who interact with the booking and rental management system. The flaw manifests when administrative users process or store user-generated content that contains malicious script payloads, which then execute in the context of other users' browsers when they access the affected plugin functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's backend processing modules. When administrators enter or modify booking data, rental information, or user management parameters, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape potentially malicious script content before storing it in the database. This stored data is subsequently retrieved and rendered in user interfaces without proper context-aware escaping mechanisms, allowing attackers who can obtain administrative credentials or exploit other attack vectors to inject persistent malicious scripts. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's administrative dashboard and user management interfaces where booking records, rental details, and user information are processed and displayed.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-35048 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal administrative credentials, manipulate booking records, and potentially gain full control over the affected WordPress installation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code in the browser context of authenticated administrators, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The stored nature of the XSS payload means that the malicious script will execute every time affected pages are loaded, creating a persistent threat that can remain undetected for extended periods. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-35048 require immediate attention from system administrators and security teams. The most effective immediate solution involves applying the latest plugin updates from MagePeople, which should contain proper input validation and output sanitization patches. Organizations should also implement strict input filtering mechanisms at multiple layers, including database input validation, output escaping, and Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to prevent script execution. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious administrative activities and unusual data modifications. Additionally, privileged user accounts should be protected through multi-factor authentication, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper security practices in web application development, particularly concerning user input handling and privilege separation in administrative interfaces.