CVE-2023-47549 in EazyDocs Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/14/2023
Unauth. Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability on 302 response page in spider-themes EazyDocs plugin
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2023-47549 represents an unauthorized reflected cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the spider-themes EazyDocs plugin, specifically manifesting on 302 redirect response pages. This issue resides within the web application's handling of user-supplied input that gets reflected back to the browser without proper sanitization or encoding mechanisms. The vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes certain parameters during redirect operations, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code that executes in the context of authenticated users' browsers. The 302 redirect behavior creates a unique attack vector where the reflected payload appears in the redirect location header or URL parameters, making it particularly challenging to detect and mitigate. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws where input data is not properly validated or escaped before being returned to users.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that get reflected back through the 302 redirect mechanism. When a victim clicks on such a crafted link, their browser performs the redirect and executes the injected JavaScript code within their authenticated session context. This creates a significant risk for authenticated users who have administrative privileges or access to sensitive data within the plugin's functionality. The reflected nature means that the malicious code does not need to be stored on the server, making detection and prevention more complex. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal session cookies, perform actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious sites that further compromise their systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-47549 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information within the EazyDocs plugin environment. The vulnerability affects the plugin's redirect handling functionality which is commonly used for authentication flows, navigation, and user management operations. When exploited successfully, this XSS flaw can result in complete compromise of user sessions, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within the affected web application. The 302 response page context makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it often appears legitimate to users, increasing the success rate of social engineering attacks. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 which covers spearphishing through social engineering and demonstrates how reflected XSS can serve as a delivery mechanism for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-47549 should focus on implementing proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the plugin's redirect handling code. Developers must ensure that all user-supplied parameters are sanitized and encoded before being processed in redirect operations, particularly when these parameters are reflected in URL structures or HTTP headers. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to prevent execution of unauthorized scripts. Regular security audits and input validation testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application. Patch management procedures must be established to ensure timely updates of the EazyDocs plugin and all related components. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems that can detect and block suspicious redirect patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper handling of HTTP redirect responses in web applications.