CVE-2023-4254 in ChatBot Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2023
The AI ChatBot WordPress plugin before 4.7.8 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite setup)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4254 affects the AI ChatBot WordPress plugin version 4.7.7 and earlier, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security posture of WordPress installations. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user settings and configuration data, where insufficient sanitization and escaping mechanisms leave the system exposed to malicious script injection. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects high-privilege users such as administrators who possess the capability to modify plugin settings, yet the vulnerability persists even when WordPress security measures like the unfiltered_html capability are properly restricted.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize user input within its administrative interfaces. When administrators configure the AI ChatBot plugin settings, the system does not adequately process or escape potentially malicious input that could contain script tags or other XSS vectors. This oversight creates a persistent attack surface where malicious code can be stored within the plugin's configuration and subsequently executed whenever the affected settings are rendered in the administrative interface. The vulnerability manifests as a stored XSS because the malicious payloads are saved to the database and executed on subsequent page loads, rather than requiring a direct interaction with a specific URL or form submission.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-4254 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers with admin privileges to escalate their access within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multisite configurations where the unfiltered_html capability is typically restricted to prevent unauthorized script injection across multiple sites. However, this restriction becomes ineffective against the stored XSS vulnerability, allowing attackers to bypass these security controls and execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the admin user's browser. This can lead to session hijacking, privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and potential complete compromise of the WordPress installation.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-79, which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1548.003 for abuse of administrative privileges and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input validation and output escaping that violates fundamental web security principles. Organizations running affected versions of the AI ChatBot plugin face significant risk, particularly in environments where administrators have access to plugin configuration settings. The vulnerability's persistence means that even if administrators attempt to correct the malicious entries, the stored payloads remain active until the plugin is properly updated and the affected settings are cleaned.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-4254 require immediate action including upgrading the AI ChatBot plugin to version 4.7.8 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization and escaping fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring for unusual plugin configuration changes, restricting administrative access to only trusted users, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where privileged users can modify system settings. Security teams should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular vulnerability scanning to detect similar issues in other plugins or custom code components.