CVE-2023-46194 in Archivist Custom Archive Templates Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/27/2023
Unauth. Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Eric Teubert Archivist – Custom Archive Templates plugin
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2023
The CVE-2023-46194 vulnerability represents a critical unauthenticated reflected cross-site scripting flaw within the Eric Teubert Archivist - Custom Archive Templates WordPress plugin. This vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of user-supplied input parameters that are directly reflected back to users without proper sanitization or encoding. The affected plugin is widely used for creating custom archive templates within WordPress environments, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit web application security weaknesses. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the plugin processes certain HTTP parameters that are not adequately validated or escaped before being rendered in web responses, creating an opportunity for malicious script execution in the context of a victim's browser.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and output encoding practices within the plugin's codebase. When users interact with the plugin's archive functionality, specific parameters are passed through HTTP requests and subsequently reflected in the plugin's response without appropriate sanitization measures. This allows attackers to craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when executed by a victim's browser, can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing arbitrary JavaScript code within the victim's browsing context. The vulnerability is classified as reflected XSS because the malicious script is reflected off the web server rather than being stored on the server itself, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on dynamic content generation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated attacks such as session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration from authenticated users. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to WordPress admin panels, modify content, or establish persistent access through session manipulation. The unauthenticated nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not require valid credentials to exploit the flaw, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential damage. Additionally, the vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering techniques, where attackers craft malicious links that appear legitimate to unsuspecting users, who may inadvertently execute the malicious payload upon visiting the crafted URL. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently click on links from external sources or where the plugin is used in public-facing applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-46194 should include immediate plugin updates from the vendor, as well as implementing proper input validation and output encoding measures. Organizations should ensure that all user-supplied input parameters are properly sanitized before being processed or reflected back to users. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be loaded. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious payloads targeting this vulnerability. According to CWE guidelines, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, while ATT&CK framework references this as part of T1566 - Phishing, where attackers use malicious links to deliver payloads. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their WordPress installations to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other plugins or themes, as the attack surface for such vulnerabilities extends beyond individual components to encompass the entire web application ecosystem.