CVE-2023-3080 : What You Need to Know

This CVE-2023-3080 pertains to a vulnerability found in the WP Mail Catcher plugin for WordPress, allowing for Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This could enable attackers to inject malicious scripts into pages, affecting users who access the compromised page.

Understanding CVE-2023-3080

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2023-3080 vulnerability, highlighting its impact and technical aspects.

What is CVE-2023-3080?

CVE-2023-3080 involves a vulnerability in the WP Mail Catcher plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 2.1.2. The flaw allows unauthenticated attackers to carry out Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks by injecting arbitrary web scripts through the email subject field.

The Impact of CVE-2023-3080

The impact of this vulnerability is rated as HIGH (CVSS base score of 7.2). With successful exploitation, attackers can execute malicious scripts within the context of the affected site, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, and other detrimental consequences.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-3080

This section provides insights into the vulnerability's technical aspects, affected systems, and exploitation mechanisms.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping in the email subject field of the WP Mail Catcher plugin. This allows attackers to insert harmful scripts that execute when users access the compromised pages.

Affected Systems and Versions

The WP Mail Catcher plugin versions up to and including 2.1.2 are impacted by CVE-2023-3080. Users utilizing these versions are at risk of falling victim to Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the lack of proper input validation and output encoding in the email subject field, threat actors can craft malicious scripts that get executed when unsuspecting users visit the compromised pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard against the CVE-2023-3080 vulnerability, immediate steps should be taken while also implementing long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the WP Mail Catcher plugin to the latest version to mitigate the vulnerability.
Consider temporarily disabling the plugin until a patch or update is available to address the issue.
Educate users about the risks associated with interacting with potentially compromised pages.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor security advisories and promptly apply patches for known vulnerabilities.
Employ web application firewalls and security plugins to enhance overall protection against web-based attacks.
Conduct security assessments and audits to identify and remediate potential security gaps proactively.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that the WP Mail Catcher plugin is kept up to date with the latest security patches and fixes provided by the developer. Regularly check for updates and apply them as soon as they become available to reduce the risk of exploitation.