CVE-2023-7269 in ArtPlacer Widget Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/19/2024
The ArtPlacer Widget WordPress plugin before 2.21.2 does not have CSRF check in some places, and is missing sanitisation as well as escaping, which could allow attackers to make logged in admin add Stored XSS payloads via a CSRF attack
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
The CVE-2023-7269 vulnerability affects the ArtPlacer Widget WordPress plugin version 2.21.1 and earlier, presenting a critical security risk that combines multiple exploit vectors. This vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper Cross-Site Request Forgery protection mechanisms in certain administrative functions while simultaneously lacking adequate input sanitization and output escaping measures. The combination of these weaknesses creates a dangerous attack surface that allows malicious actors to execute Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks against authenticated administrators.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's administrative interfaces where CSRF protection mechanisms are either completely absent or inadequately implemented. This absence of CSRF tokens or validation allows attackers to craft malicious requests that can be executed by authenticated administrators when they visit compromised web pages or click on malicious links. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates in the administrative context, where authenticated users possess elevated privileges and can perform actions that significantly impact the entire WordPress installation.
The missing sanitization and escaping mechanisms compound the severity of this vulnerability by allowing attackers to inject malicious JavaScript payloads directly into the plugin's data handling processes. These payloads are then stored within the application's database and subsequently executed whenever the affected administrative interfaces are accessed. This stored XSS capability transforms what might otherwise be a one-time exploitation scenario into a persistent threat that can affect multiple users over time, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for high-privilege accounts.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-7269 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it enables attackers to establish persistent backdoors within WordPress installations. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can potentially gain complete administrative control over the affected WordPress site, including the ability to modify content, steal user credentials, install malicious plugins, or even compromise other systems within the network. The vulnerability's presence in the administrative interface also means that any logged-in administrator who visits a malicious page becomes a potential victim, creating a wide attack surface.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-79, which covers Cross-Site Scripting. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 for Initial Access through malicious links and T1071.001 for application layer protocols. The attack chain typically begins with the delivery of a malicious payload through social engineering or compromised websites, followed by the exploitation of the CSRF weakness to inject persistent XSS payloads, ultimately leading to full administrative compromise.
Organizations should immediately update to version 2.21.2 or later of the ArtPlacer Widget plugin to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, administrators should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious administrative activity, conduct regular security audits of installed plugins, and ensure that all WordPress installations maintain current versions of core software and plugins. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include proper input validation, output escaping, and robust CSRF protection mechanisms in all web applications, particularly those handling administrative functions.