CVE-2023-47869 in wpForo Forum Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/09/2024
Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) vulnerability in gVectors Team wpForo Forum allows Code Injection.This issue affects wpForo Forum: from n/a through 2.2.5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-47869 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw classified under CWE-79 Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This weakness specifically manifests in the wpForo Forum plugin developed by gVectors Team, where user input containing HTML tags is not properly sanitized before being rendered in web pages. The vulnerability exists in versions ranging from the initial release through 2.2.5, indicating a persistent issue that has not been addressed in the affected software lineage. The core problem stems from the plugin's failure to implement adequate input validation and output encoding mechanisms when processing forum content, allowing malicious actors to inject script code that executes in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows standard XSS attack patterns where an attacker crafts malicious input containing HTML or JavaScript code within the forum's posting or editing interfaces. When this malformed content is displayed to other users, the browser interprets the injected script as legitimate content, executing it in the victim's browser context. This basic form of XSS allows for session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of forum content, and potential redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the nature of forum platforms where user-generated content is inherently trusted and displayed without proper sanitization. Attackers can leverage this weakness to manipulate forum behavior, steal user sessions, or propagate malware through infected user browsers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to forum administrators and users alike, particularly in environments where wpForo Forum serves as a primary communication platform. The attack surface extends beyond simple content manipulation to include potential privilege escalation if the forum includes administrative functions accessible through user interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 Credential Access through Web Application, where attackers can harvest session cookies and authentication tokens from unsuspecting users. Organizations relying on wpForo Forum for business communications or community engagement face potential data breaches, reputational damage, and compliance violations if this vulnerability remains unpatched. The persistent nature of the issue across multiple versions suggests that organizations may have been exposed to this risk for extended periods, increasing the potential for successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-47869 should prioritize immediate patch application from the vendor to address the root cause of the input sanitization failure. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that properly encode or sanitize all user-provided content before rendering, specifically targeting HTML tag neutralization as per CWE-173. Network-based defenses such as web application firewalls can provide additional layers of protection by detecting and blocking suspicious script injection patterns. Regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other forum plugins or web applications. Administrators should also consider implementing content security policies and monitoring user-generated content for potential injection attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices and the necessity of proper input sanitization in web applications to prevent exploitation through common attack vectors.