CVE-2023-47768 in Footer Putter Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/23/2023
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Russell Jamieson Footer Putter plugin <= 1.17 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2023
The CVE-2023-47768 vulnerability represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Russell Jamieson Footer Putter WordPress plugin, affecting versions 1.17 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of user input during web page generation processes, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary script code into web pages viewed by other users. The issue stems from inadequate sanitization of input parameters that are subsequently rendered in HTML output without proper escaping or validation mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious payloads through input fields that are processed by the plugin, potentially leading to unauthorized actions performed on behalf of victims.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when user-supplied data enters the plugin's processing pipeline and is directly embedded into dynamically generated web content without appropriate neutralization measures. This flaw typically manifests when the plugin fails to properly escape special characters such as angle brackets, quotes, or script tags that could alter the intended HTML structure. The vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to sanitize user input before incorporating it into web page content. The plugin's failure to implement proper output encoding or context-specific escaping creates an environment where attacker-controlled data can be interpreted as executable script code rather than static text.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, potentially enabling attackers to perform session hijacking, defacement of web pages, data theft, or redirection to malicious sites. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to steal administrator credentials, modify plugin settings, or inject malicious advertisements into the footer content. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where the plugin is used by multiple users with varying privilege levels, as it could provide a foothold for privilege escalation attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it allows adversaries to execute malicious JavaScript code in the context of a victim's browser session. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to persistent threats where attackers maintain access through malicious scripts that remain embedded in the compromised web pages.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-47768 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS vulnerability through proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Administrators should implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to limit script execution and prevent unauthorized code injection, while also applying input validation at multiple layers of the application architecture. The plugin developers should adopt secure coding practices including automatic output escaping for all dynamic content, implementing proper HTML entity encoding, and utilizing established sanitization libraries. Additional defensive measures include regular security audits of third-party plugins, maintaining up-to-date security monitoring systems, and implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious input patterns. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation and least-privilege access controls to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation, while establishing incident response procedures to quickly address any security breaches related to this vulnerability.