CVE-2023-47673 in Post Pay Counter Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/14/2023
Unauth. Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Stefano Ottolenghi Post Pay Counter plugin <= 2.789 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2023
The CVE-2023-47673 vulnerability represents a critical unauthenticated reflected cross-site scripting flaw discovered in the Stefano Ottolenghi Post Pay Counter WordPress plugin. This vulnerability affects versions up to and including 2.789, making it a widespread concern for WordPress site administrators who have not yet updated their installations. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the plugin processes parameters from HTTP requests without proper sanitization, allowing attackers to craft malicious URLs that, when clicked by victims, execute malicious scripts in their browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, which is classified as one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it enables attackers to execute malicious JavaScript code within the victim's browser context.
The technical exploitation of this reflected XSS vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing JavaScript payload within the plugin's parameter handling logic. When a victim clicks this crafted link, the malicious script is reflected back to the victim's browser and executed in the context of the vulnerable website, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, deface web pages, or redirect users to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no authentication, meaning any user can exploit it simply by accessing a maliciously crafted URL. The impact extends beyond simple script execution as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform session hijacking, data theft, or even establish persistent backdoors through more sophisticated attack vectors. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload is not stored on the server but is instead reflected back to the user through the server's response, making it harder to detect through traditional security scanning methods. This characteristic also means that the vulnerability can be exploited through various vectors including email phishing campaigns, social media links, or compromised websites that redirect users to malicious URLs containing the XSS payload.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-47673 affects WordPress administrators and end users across numerous websites that utilize the affected Post Pay Counter plugin. Organizations relying on this plugin for payment processing or counter management systems face potential exposure to data breaches, financial fraud, and reputational damage. The vulnerability's unauthenticated nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring valid credentials, significantly increasing the attack surface and potential damage. Security teams must immediately assess their plugin inventory and determine if any systems are running vulnerable versions of the Post Pay Counter plugin. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive customer information, session hijacking, and potential compromise of the entire WordPress installation. Additionally, the reflected XSS nature allows attackers to perform persistent attacks through social engineering campaigns that trick users into clicking malicious links. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including plugin updates, web application firewall rules, and input validation measures. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security audits and plugin maintenance, as outdated plugins represent one of the most common attack vectors in web application security breaches. According to industry best practices, this vulnerability should be addressed through immediate patching, network segmentation, and monitoring for exploitation attempts in security logs and network traffic. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing detection capabilities for suspicious URL patterns and monitoring for JavaScript injection attempts in web application traffic, while CWE guidelines emphasize the need for robust input validation and output encoding to prevent such vulnerabilities from occurring in the first place.