CVE-2023-4298 in 123.chat Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/04/2023
The 123.chat WordPress plugin before 1.3.1 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 • 09/10/2023
The CVE-2023-4298 vulnerability affects the 123.chat WordPress plugin version 1.3.0 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability specifically targets high-privilege users such as administrators who possess the capability to modify plugin settings. The flaw stems from inadequate sanitization and escaping of user-provided input within the plugin's administrative interface, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited even in environments where the unfiltered_html capability has been restricted.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize input data before storing it in the WordPress database. When administrators configure plugin settings through the administrative dashboard, the plugin accepts raw HTML content without sufficient sanitization measures. This allows malicious actors with administrative privileges to inject malicious scripts that will execute whenever other users view the affected plugin settings or related pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in multisite WordPress environments where the unfiltered_html capability is typically restricted to prevent XSS attacks, yet this flaw circumvents those protections.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-4298 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. Attackers could craft malicious payloads that steal administrator cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or manipulate the plugin's functionality to gain deeper access to the WordPress installation. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious scripts persist in the database and execute automatically whenever affected pages are loaded, making it particularly dangerous for long-term compromise of the system.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1548.001 for privilege escalation through the exploitation of administrative capabilities. The flaw represents a failure in input validation and output encoding practices that are fundamental to secure web application development. Organizations should immediately update to version 1.3.1 or later of the 123.chat plugin to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should review and audit existing plugin configurations for any malicious payloads that may have been injected prior to the patch deployment. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and enforcement of least privilege principles for administrative accounts can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.