CVE-2023-4971 in Weaver Xtreme Theme Support Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
The Weaver Xtreme Theme Support WordPress plugin before 6.3.1 unserialises the content of an imported file, which could lead to PHP object injections issues when a high privilege user import a malicious file and a suitable gadget chain is present on the blog.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4971 resides within the Weaver Xtreme Theme Support WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions prior to 6.3.1. This issue represents a critical security flaw that exploits the plugin's handling of imported files through improper deserialization practices. The vulnerability operates under the premise that a malicious file can be imported by a high-privilege user, creating an environment where PHP object injection attacks can be executed. The underlying technical mechanism involves the plugin's failure to properly validate or sanitize the content of imported files before attempting to unserialize them, which directly aligns with CWE-502, a well-documented weakness related to deserialization of untrusted data. When an attacker successfully imports a malicious file containing specially crafted serialized objects, these objects can be automatically unserialized during the import process, potentially executing arbitrary code on the target system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it leverages the privilege escalation aspect of WordPress environments where high-privilege users typically have extensive administrative capabilities. The attack vector requires a high-privilege user to perform the import action, which means that an attacker would need to first compromise an account with administrative rights or gain access through other means such as social engineering or credential theft. However, once this condition is met, the vulnerability creates a path for remote code execution through the PHP object injection mechanism. The severity is amplified by the fact that WordPress plugins often have extensive access to system resources and user data, making the potential impact of such an attack significant. The vulnerability's exploitation becomes more dangerous when considering that suitable gadget chains may already exist within the WordPress environment or the underlying PHP libraries, which can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution without requiring additional complex attack vectors.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2023-4971 centers on immediate plugin updates to version 6.3.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to prevent the unsafe deserialization of imported files. Additionally, administrators should implement strict access controls and monitoring around plugin import functionalities, ensuring that only trusted users can perform such operations. The implementation of input validation and sanitization measures for all file imports, combined with regular security audits of installed plugins, can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited. Security professionals should also consider implementing network-level protections and intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious import activities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in web applications, particularly when dealing with user-supplied data and serialization mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.007 for PHP and T1566.001 for malicious file downloads, highlighting the attack surface and potential exploitation methods. Organizations should also consider implementing the principle of least privilege, ensuring that administrative functions are restricted to only those users who absolutely require such access, thereby reducing the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.