CVE-2023-51548 in SlickNav Mobile Menu Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/01/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Neil Gee SlickNav Mobile Menu allows Stored XSS.This issue affects SlickNav Mobile Menu: from n/a through 1.9.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-51548 represents a critical cross-site scripting weakness within the Neil Gee SlickNav Mobile Menu plugin, classified under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation. This flaw enables attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages that are subsequently executed by other users, creating a persistent security risk for websites utilizing this mobile menu solution. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a stored XSS attack, meaning that malicious code injected through the vulnerable input fields is permanently stored on the server and executed whenever affected pages are accessed, rather than being reflected in a single request.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input sanitization within the SlickNav Mobile Menu plugin's web page generation process. Attackers can leverage this weakness by submitting malicious payloads through input fields that are not properly validated or escaped before being rendered in the browser. The affected version range spans from an unknown starting point through version 1.9.2, indicating that all versions within this range are potentially vulnerable to this stored XSS attack vector. This vulnerability directly impacts the integrity and security of web applications that rely on the SlickNav plugin for mobile navigation functionality, as it allows for unauthorized code execution in the context of victim browsers.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-51548 extends beyond simple script injection, as stored XSS attacks can lead to complete session hijacking, credential theft, and potential system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to user sessions, steal sensitive information, redirect users to malicious sites, or even modify website content. The persistent nature of stored XSS means that the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the server, providing attackers with extended periods of access and control. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress websites that utilize the SlickNav Mobile Menu plugin, as it represents a common attack vector for compromising content management systems through third-party plugin vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-51548 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the stored XSS vulnerability, as recommended by the plugin developer and security vendors. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent malicious script injection, adhering to established security practices that align with the ATT&CK framework's defense-in-depth approach. Additional protective measures include implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict script execution, conducting regular security audits of third-party plugins, and maintaining up-to-date vulnerability scanning processes. Security teams should also consider network segmentation and monitoring to detect suspicious activities related to potential exploitation attempts, while ensuring that all web applications undergo regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by threat actors.