CVE-2023-35776 in Sermons Online Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/19/2023
Auth. (contributor+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Beplus Sermon'e – Sermons Online plugin <= 1.0.0 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2023
The CVE-2023-35776 vulnerability represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Beplus Sermon'e – Sermons Online WordPress plugin, affecting versions up to and including 1.0.0. This vulnerability specifically targets users with contributor privileges or higher, making it particularly concerning for content management systems where multiple user roles exist. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, allowing authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into the system. The vulnerability's classification as a stored XSS indicates that the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server and executed whenever affected pages are accessed by other users, making it particularly dangerous for widespread impact.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through the plugin's handling of user-contributed content within sermon entries or related data fields. When a contributor or higher-privileged user submits content containing malicious script code, the plugin fails to properly sanitize or escape the input before storing it in the database. This stored content is then served to other users without adequate security measures, allowing the injected JavaScript to execute in their browsers. The vulnerability typically manifests when the plugin displays sermon data or related content on public-facing pages or admin interfaces where the malicious script can be triggered. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-35776 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and redirection to malicious sites. An attacker with contributor privileges can craft payloads that persistently compromise other users who view the affected content, potentially leading to full system compromise if administrators or editors access the malicious content. The vulnerability also poses risks to user privacy and data integrity, as the stored scripts can capture user interactions or extract sensitive information from the browser environment. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users with varying privilege levels interact with the same content management system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the Beplus Sermon'e plugin to version 1.0.1 or later, which should contain the necessary input validation and output escaping fixes. System administrators should implement strict input validation measures and ensure that all user-contributed content undergoes proper sanitization before storage. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting contributor roles to only necessary functions and monitoring content submission activities. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting script execution sources. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security scanning to detect similar vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output escaping as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and ATT&CK framework's T1211 technique for exploiting web application vulnerabilities.