CVE-2023-4797 in Newsletters Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2024
The Newsletters WordPress plugin before 4.9.3 does not properly escape user-controlled parameters when they are appended to SQL queries and shell commands, which could enable an administrator to run arbitrary commands on the server.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/11/2025
The CVE-2023-4797 vulnerability affects the Newsletters WordPress plugin version 4.9.2 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk that stems from improper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. This flaw exists within the plugin's handling of user-controlled parameters that are subsequently incorporated into SQL queries and shell commands without adequate sanitization. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited by authenticated administrators, who possess the necessary privileges to manipulate the plugin's functionality and potentially execute malicious code on the underlying server infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of command injection and SQL injection flaws that fall under CWE-78 and CWE-89 categories respectively. When administrators interact with the plugin's administrative interface, specific parameters are accepted from user input and directly concatenated into system commands or database queries without proper escaping or sanitization. This creates an environment where maliciously crafted input can alter the intended execution flow of both database operations and system command invocations, effectively allowing attackers to bypass normal security controls and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web server process.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-4797 extends beyond simple data compromise, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway to establish persistent access within the target environment. Once exploited, the vulnerability enables remote code execution capabilities that can be leveraged for various malicious activities including data exfiltration, privilege escalation, and the installation of additional malware. The attack vector specifically targets authenticated administrators, which means that successful exploitation requires either credential compromise or social engineering to gain administrative access, but once achieved, the impact is severe enough to potentially allow complete system compromise. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1041 for exfiltration, as it enables both arbitrary command execution and data extraction from compromised systems.
Organizations utilizing the Newsletters plugin must implement immediate mitigations to address this vulnerability, including upgrading to version 4.9.3 or later where the escaping mechanisms have been properly implemented. Security administrators should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as restricting administrative privileges, monitoring for unusual command executions, and ensuring that only necessary plugin functionalities are enabled. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where elevated privileges can be leveraged to cause maximum damage. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other plugins and custom code implementations, as this type of flaw represents a common but dangerous pattern in web application security vulnerabilities.