CVE-2023-47809 in Accordion Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/23/2023
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Themepoints Accordion plugin <= 2.6 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2023
The CVE-2023-47809 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Themepoints Accordion plugin, specifically affecting versions 2.6 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the plugin's improper handling of user input during web page generation processes, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject persistent script code into web applications. The issue manifests when the plugin fails to adequately sanitize or escape user-provided data before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages, thereby allowing attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly neutralize input parameters that are subsequently rendered in web page content. When users interact with the accordion plugin functionality, input data such as titles, content sections, or configuration parameters may be directly embedded into HTML output without appropriate sanitization measures. This weakness aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic XSS vulnerability. The vulnerability exploitation occurs when an attacker crafts malicious input containing script tags or other executable code that gets stored and later executed when legitimate users view the affected pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform a range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and defacement of affected websites. An attacker could potentially inject malicious scripts that steal cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or modify content displayed to other users. The severity is amplified because the vulnerability affects a widely used plugin, meaning that numerous websites could be compromised simultaneously. The attack vector typically involves an authenticated user with sufficient privileges to modify plugin settings or content, though in some cases the vulnerability may be exploitable by unauthenticated attackers depending on how the plugin handles input validation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigation strategies including updating to the latest plugin version where the XSS flaw has been addressed, implementing proper input sanitization measures, and deploying content security policies to limit script execution. The remediation process should involve comprehensive security testing of the plugin environment, monitoring for any signs of exploitation, and ensuring that all user inputs are properly escaped before being rendered in web pages. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing web application firewalls and regular vulnerability scanning to detect similar issues in other plugins or components. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in web application security, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics that often leverage XSS vulnerabilities for initial access and privilege escalation.