CVE-2023-47844 in Grab & Save Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/30/2023
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Lim Kai Yang Grab & Save allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects Grab & Save: from n/a through 1.0.4.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-47844 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Grab & Save plugin version 1.0.4 and earlier, specifically impacting the Lim Kai Yang Grab & Save software. This weakness falls under the broader category of improper input neutralization during web page generation, creating a significant security risk for users who interact with the affected system. The vulnerability manifests as a reflected cross-site scripting attack, where malicious scripts are injected into web pages viewed by other users through crafted input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient sanitization of user-supplied input data before it is rendered in web page content. When the Grab & Save plugin processes user requests, it fails to properly escape or encode special characters in input fields, allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code that gets executed in the context of other users' browsers. This reflected nature means that the malicious payload is included in the HTTP request and then reflected back in the response, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that do not adequately validate or sanitize their input parameters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or session hijacking, as reflected XSS attacks can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including credential theft, defacement of web pages, redirection to malicious sites, and potentially full compromise of user sessions. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Grab & Save plugin through version 1.0.4, indicating that users who have not updated to the latest version remain at significant risk. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious URLs containing XSS payloads that, when clicked by victims, execute the injected code in their browsers. This creates a persistent threat vector that can be leveraged for various attack scenarios including phishing campaigns, data exfiltration, and user impersonation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the affected plugin to the latest available version that addresses the XSS flaw. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious code injection, following industry best practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and the CWE-79 category for cross-site scripting. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 - Phishing and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the need for layered defensive measures including web application firewalls, content security policies, and regular security assessments. Organizations should also consider implementing proper logging and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures to address any successful attacks that may occur. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of clicking suspicious links and the importance of keeping software updated remains crucial in defending against this type of vulnerability.