CVE-2023-25040 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2023-25040 was published on March 30, 2023, by Patchstack. It involves a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in the WordPress Shortcodes Plugin - Shortcodes Ultimate, specifically affecting versions up to 5.12.6. The vulnerability was discovered by Rafie Muhammad from Patchstack.

Understanding CVE-2023-25040

This section will delve into what CVE-2023-25040 entails, including its impact, technical details, affected systems, exploitation mechanisms, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2023-25040?

CVE-2023-25040 refers to an Authenticated Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the WordPress Shortcodes Plugin - Shortcodes Ultimate versions up to 5.12.6.

The Impact of CVE-2023-25040

It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5, categorizing it as a medium severity issue. The vulnerability could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of an authenticated contributor or a higher-level user, potentially leading to unauthorized actions on the affected website.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-25040

In this section, we will explore the vulnerability description, affected systems, versions, and the exploitation mechanism in detail.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability involves improper neutralization of input during the web page generation, known as 'Cross-site Scripting' (XSS) under CWE-79.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects the WordPress Shortcodes Plugin - Shortcodes Ultimate versions up to 5.12.6.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts into the affected plugin, potentially leading to the execution of unauthorized actions.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-25040 and prevent exploitation, immediate steps, long-term security practices, and patching recommendations should be considered.

Immediate Steps to Take

It is crucial to update the WordPress Shortcodes Plugin - Shortcodes Ultimate to version 5.12.7 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability and protect the website from potential XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing secure coding practices, conducting regular security audits, and educating users on XSS prevention can help enhance overall website security.

Patching and Updates

Regularly updating plugins, themes, and the core WordPress installation, along with monitoring security advisories, can help prevent future vulnerabilities and ensure a secure website environment.