CVE-2023-50822 in Currency Converter Widget Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/21/2023
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Currency.Wiki Currency Converter Widget – Exchange Rates allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Currency Converter Widget – Exchange Rates: from n/a through 3.0.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-50822 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Currency.Wiki Currency Converter Widget plugin, specifically targeting the Stored XSS variant that enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. This vulnerability resides in the web page generation process where input validation and sanitization mechanisms fail to properly neutralize user-supplied data before it is rendered in the browser context. The flaw manifests when the plugin processes currency conversion requests or user-defined parameters that are subsequently stored and displayed without adequate security measures to prevent script injection attacks. The vulnerability affects all versions of the Currency Converter Widget plugin up to and including version 3.0.2, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple iterations of the software.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input filtering and output encoding practices within the plugin's codebase, which directly aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This weakness allows attackers to store malicious payloads within the application's database or configuration files, which then execute automatically when other users view the affected web pages. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious code persists and executes each time the vulnerable page is accessed, rather than requiring a single interaction with a malicious link. Attackers can leverage this flaw to steal user sessions, deface web pages, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users, depending on the privileges of the targeted accounts.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-50822 extends beyond simple script execution as it represents a significant threat to user data integrity and application security. When exploited, this vulnerability can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information processed through the currency conversion widget, potentially leading to unauthorized financial transactions, data theft, or complete compromise of user accounts. The stored XSS nature means that the attack vector can persist for extended periods, allowing attackers to maintain access to compromised systems and continuously harvest sensitive information. Organizations using this plugin are particularly vulnerable as the flaw exists in the core functionality of currency conversion, making it difficult to isolate or patch without comprehensive system updates. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1531 - Account Access Removal and T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access and execute malicious code within the user's browser context.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2023-50822 requires immediate implementation of proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms throughout the plugin's codebase. Security patches should enforce strict sanitization of all user inputs before storage and ensure that all data displayed in web pages undergoes appropriate HTML escaping and context-appropriate encoding. The fix must address both the immediate vulnerability and prevent similar issues by implementing comprehensive security measures including parameterized queries, content security policies, and regular security audits. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all plugin versions are kept up to date with the latest security patches. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing XSS attacks, particularly in web applications that process user-generated content, and demonstrates the necessity of following security best practices such as those outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks.