CVE-2023-7246 in System Dashboard Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/20/2024
The System Dashboard WordPress plugin before 2.8.10 does not sanitize and escape some parameters, which could allow administrators in multisite WordPress configurations to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2025
The CVE-2023-7246 vulnerability affects the System Dashboard WordPress plugin version 2.8.10 and earlier, presenting a critical cross-site scripting risk in multisite WordPress environments. This flaw stems from insufficient sanitization and escaping of user-supplied parameters within the plugin's administrative interfaces, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts into the dashboard. The vulnerability specifically targets administrators within multisite configurations where the plugin is active, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise and hosting environments where multiple sites share a single WordPress installation. The issue arises from the plugin's failure to properly validate and sanitize input parameters before rendering them in the user interface, which violates fundamental security principles of input validation and output encoding.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when administrators access certain plugin pages that handle user-provided data without proper sanitization. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that get executed in the context of the administrator's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to sanitize user input before incorporating it into web pages. This weakness allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute with the privileges of the authenticated administrator, potentially compromising the entire multisite network. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only administrative access to the plugin's dashboard functionality, which is often less protected than core WordPress administrative areas.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-7246 extends beyond simple XSS exploitation, as it represents a significant threat to WordPress multisite security posture. In environments where multiple sites are managed through a single administrative interface, a compromised administrator account can lead to widespread damage across all hosted sites. The vulnerability enables attackers to establish persistent access through malicious script injection, potentially allowing them to modify site content, steal sensitive data, or redirect users to malicious domains. The risk is amplified in hosting environments where multiple clients share the same WordPress installation, as a single compromised administrator account could affect all sites within that network. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, as the malicious scripts could be used to execute commands or establish backdoors within the compromised environment.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by updating the System Dashboard plugin to version 2.8.10 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization patches. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious dashboard activity and consider implementing content security policies to mitigate the impact of potential XSS attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices, particularly in administrative interfaces where user-supplied data is processed. Security teams should also review other plugins for similar vulnerabilities, as the issue reflects common security flaws in WordPress plugin development. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper sanitization routines and ensuring that all user-provided parameters are appropriately escaped before being rendered in the web interface, thereby preventing malicious script execution and protecting the integrity of the multisite WordPress environment.