CVE-2023-51371 in Chat Widget Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/29/2023
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Bit Assist Chat Widget: WhatsApp Chat, Facebook Messenger Chat, Telegram Chat Bubble, Line Messenger, Live Chat Support Chat Button, WeChat, SMS, Call Button, Customer Support Button with floating Chat Widget allows Stored XSS.This issue affects Chat Widget: WhatsApp Chat, Facebook Messenger Chat, Telegram Chat Bubble, Line Messenger, Live Chat Support Chat Button, WeChat, SMS, Call Button, Customer Support Button with floating Chat Widget: from n/a through 1.1.9.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2024
This cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the Bit Assist Chat Widget plugin for WordPress, which provides various messaging integration capabilities including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, and other communication platforms. The flaw represents a classic stored XSS attack vector where malicious input submitted by users can be permanently stored on the server and subsequently executed in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability specifically occurs during the web page generation process when user-provided input is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered in the chat widget interface. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the victim's browser when they view pages containing the compromised widget.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. When administrators or users configure chat widget parameters through the WordPress admin interface, the input values are stored in the database without proper sanitization. The stored values are then retrieved and directly embedded into HTML output without appropriate HTML escaping or context-specific encoding. This failure to neutralize user input during web page generation creates an environment where malicious payloads can persist and execute automatically. The vulnerability affects all versions from the initial release through version 1.1.9, indicating a long-standing issue that has not been properly addressed in the plugin's security implementation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it can be exploited to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, defacement of web pages, and redirection to malicious sites. Attackers can craft specially crafted input that when stored in the chat widget configuration becomes executable JavaScript code in the browser context of other users. This allows for persistent exploitation where the malicious script executes every time affected pages are loaded, potentially affecting all visitors to the compromised website. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even if the initial injection occurs during plugin configuration, the malicious code continues to execute for all subsequent visitors without requiring repeated exploitation attempts.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms throughout the plugin's codebase. All user-provided input must be sanitized using appropriate context-specific escaping functions before being stored or rendered in web pages. The plugin should implement strict input validation to reject potentially malicious content and employ proper HTML escaping when rendering stored values in the chat widget interface. Additionally, the plugin developers should consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts and establish a more robust security framework for handling user input. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content, representing a critical security gap that requires immediate remediation to protect website visitors and maintain the integrity of the affected WordPress installations.