CVE-2023-40552 in Fitness Calculators Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2023
Auth. (admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Gurcharan Singh Fitness calculators plugin plugin <= 2.0.7 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/02/2023
The CVE-2023-40552 vulnerability represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Fitness calculators plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 2.0.7. This vulnerability specifically targets administrative users with privileges of level admin or higher, making it particularly dangerous as it allows attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of the victim's browser. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an environment where malicious payloads can be persistently stored and subsequently executed when legitimate users access affected pages.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of input fields within the plugin's administrative interface where user-generated content is accepted without proper sanitization. When administrators or higher-privileged users interact with the plugin's functionality, the malicious script code is stored in the database and then rendered in subsequent page requests. This stored nature of the vulnerability means that the attack vector becomes persistent, affecting all users who view the affected content without requiring them to click on any additional links or perform specific actions beyond normal browsing. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which classifies improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and specifically relates to CWE-80 which addresses the improper neutralization of script-related HTML tags in a web page.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform various malicious activities including but not limited to session hijacking, credential theft, redirection to malicious websites, and potential privilege escalation within the affected WordPress environment. The stored nature of the XSS attack means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with extended time windows for exploitation. Attackers could potentially inject scripts that steal administrator cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or even deploy additional malware payloads. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires only administrative-level access to be exploited, making it particularly attractive to threat actors who may have already gained access through other means such as credential compromise or other vulnerabilities.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the WordPress environment. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for script execution and T1566 for credential harvesting. Security teams must consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack chain where initial access might be gained through other vectors, and this XSS vulnerability serves as a persistence mechanism. The remediation strategy should focus on immediate patching of the plugin to version 2.0.8 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should implement proper access controls and monitoring for unusual administrative activities. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor security oversights can lead to significant operational risks within enterprise environments.