CVE-2023-7233 in GigPress Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2024
The GigPress WordPress plugin through 2.3.29 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite setup)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The GigPress WordPress plugin version 2.3.29 and earlier contains a critical security vulnerability that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks through inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically affects high-privilege users including administrators who possess the capability to modify plugin settings despite having unfiltered_html capability disabled, which is a common security configuration in multisite WordPress environments. The flaw exists within the plugin's handling of user-controllable data inputs that are stored in the WordPress database and subsequently rendered without proper sanitization, creating a persistent XSS vector that can be exploited by attackers with administrative access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user inputs before storing them in the database and subsequently outputting them in web pages. When administrators configure plugin settings through the WordPress admin interface, the data entered by these users is stored directly without appropriate sanitization processes that would remove or encode potentially malicious script content. This lack of input validation creates a scenario where malicious scripts can be embedded within legitimate plugin settings, which then execute in the context of other users' browsers when they view pages that display these stored values. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates even when WordPress security measures such as the unfiltered_html capability restriction are in place, which typically prevents users from injecting raw HTML or script content in standard WordPress contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS exploitation as it provides attackers with persistent access to administrative functions and user sessions. Once an attacker gains administrative access through this vulnerability, they can execute arbitrary code within the WordPress environment, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects multisite WordPress installations where the unfiltered_html capability is typically restricted, making it particularly dangerous in shared hosting environments or managed WordPress platforms where security restrictions are enforced. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that execute when administrators view plugin settings or when end users interact with pages displaying gig information, creating a sophisticated attack vector that can persist across multiple user sessions and site visits.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the GigPress plugin to version 2.3.30 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization and escaping fixes. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular monitoring of plugin updates, implementing web application firewalls to detect suspicious script injections, and conducting security audits of plugin configurations to identify any malicious code that may have been injected prior to patching. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting flaws, and represents a specific instance of CWE-116 which addresses improper encoding or escaping of output. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content and T1059.001 for command and control through script execution, demonstrating how a single plugin vulnerability can enable broader compromise scenarios in WordPress environments. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers to provide additional protection against script execution and establish monitoring procedures to detect unauthorized changes to plugin configurations that could indicate exploitation attempts.