CVE-2023-6164 in Manager for Multiple Websites Maintenance Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/22/2023
The MainWP Dashboard – WordPress Manager for Multiple Websites Maintenance plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to CSS Injection via the ‘newColor’ parameter in all versions up to, and including, 4.5.1.2 due to insufficient input sanitization. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level access, to inject arbitrary CSS values into the site tags.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-6164 affects the MainWP Dashboard plugin for WordPress, specifically targeting versions up to and including 4.5.1.2. This plugin serves as a centralized management tool for administrators overseeing multiple WordPress websites, making it a critical component in enterprise and agency environments where multiple sites need coordinated maintenance and monitoring. The vulnerability resides within the plugin's handling of user input through the 'newColor' parameter, which is utilized in the context of site tag management functionality. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient input validation and sanitization that can have significant operational implications for organizations relying on this plugin for their WordPress site management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize or validate the 'newColor' parameter before incorporating it into CSS output within the administrative interface. When an authenticated administrator with sufficient privileges submits a malicious value through this parameter, the system fails to adequately filter or escape the input, allowing arbitrary CSS code to be injected directly into the site's tag management interface. This CSS injection occurs within the context of a privileged administrative session, meaning that the attacker must already possess administrator-level credentials to exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-80: Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page and CWE-79: Cross-Site Scripting, as it enables the injection of malicious CSS code that can potentially be leveraged for further exploitation. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates within the administrative dashboard where users have elevated privileges, making it more dangerous than typical client-side injection vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple visual disruption, as CSS injection can be leveraged to manipulate the user interface in ways that may obscure critical controls or create confusion for administrators. An attacker could potentially inject CSS rules that hide important administrative elements, redirect users to malicious sites through CSS-based URL manipulation, or even create misleading visual elements that could confuse administrators during critical maintenance operations. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only administrative access, which is already a high-privilege level, but the fact that it allows for persistent manipulation of the administrative interface makes it particularly dangerous. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability provides a foothold for further reconnaissance and potential privilege escalation within the managed WordPress environment, as it could be used to obscure malicious activities or create persistent backdoors through the manipulation of CSS-based user interface elements. The attack pattern aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1546.001: Setuid and Setgid, where attackers manipulate administrative interfaces to maintain persistent access or hide malicious activities.
Organizations should immediately update their MainWP Dashboard plugin installations to versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the plugin's widespread adoption in enterprise environments makes it a prime target for exploitation. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing strict input validation and sanitization measures for all user-provided parameters, particularly those that influence CSS or HTML output within administrative interfaces. Additionally, organizations should enforce principle of least privilege by ensuring that administrative access is strictly limited to authorized personnel and that regular security audits are conducted to identify potential unauthorized access. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor oversights in parameter handling can create significant security risks in privileged administrative interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems that can detect anomalous CSS injection patterns in administrative interfaces, as these can serve as early warning indicators of potential exploitation attempts.