CVE-2023-5124 in Page Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/29/2024
The Page Builder: Pagelayer WordPress plugin before 1.8.0 doesn't prevent attackers with administrator privileges from inserting malicious JavaScript inside a post's header or footer code, even when unfiltered_html is disallowed, such as in multi-site WordPress configurations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5124 affects the Page Builder: Pagelayer WordPress plugin version 1.8.0 and earlier, presenting a critical security flaw that undermines content management system integrity. This issue specifically targets WordPress installations where unfiltered_html capabilities are restricted, particularly within multi-site configurations where security policies are more stringent. The vulnerability exploits a design oversight in the plugin's handling of user input within post header and footer sections, creating a pathway for privilege escalation through code injection attacks.
The technical flaw stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and validate user-supplied content when administrators attempt to insert custom JavaScript code into post headers or footers. Despite WordPress's built-in security measures that typically restrict unfiltered_html capabilities in multi-site environments, the Pagelayer plugin bypasses these protections by not implementing adequate input validation mechanisms. This allows authenticated administrators to inject malicious scripts that could execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to cross-site scripting attacks and unauthorized access to sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code injection, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of WordPress installations that rely on role-based access controls and content restrictions. Attackers with administrator privileges can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary JavaScript code, potentially gaining access to user sessions, stealing sensitive information, or performing unauthorized actions within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-site configurations where administrators might have elevated privileges but should not be able to bypass core security restrictions.
Organizations utilizing the Pagelayer plugin must implement immediate mitigations including updating to version 1.8.0 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and validation mechanisms. Security administrators should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious code injections and review existing security policies to ensure proper role-based access controls are maintained. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566 for social engineering through malicious content injection. Regular security audits and patch management procedures should be enhanced to prevent similar issues in other WordPress plugins and themes that handle user-supplied content.