CVE-2023-3996 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-3996 was assigned by Wordfence and published on October 20, 2023. It affects the ARMember Lite - Membership Plugin for WordPress, specifically versions up to and including 4.0.14. The vulnerability allows for Stored Cross-Site Scripting via admin settings due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping.

Understanding CVE-2023-3996

This section provides an overview of CVE-2023-3996, focusing on the vulnerability, impact, and affected systems.

What is CVE-2023-3996?

CVE-2023-3996 is a vulnerability in the ARMember Lite - Membership Plugin for WordPress that enables authenticated attackers with administrator-level permissions to inject arbitrary web scripts via admin settings. This could lead to the execution of malicious scripts when a user accesses these affected pages.

The Impact of CVE-2023-3996

The impact of CVE-2023-3996 is rated as MEDIUM with a base score of 4.4. This vulnerability can allow attackers to compromise the security of multi-site installations and systems where unfiltered_html has been disabled.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-3996

In this section, we will delve into the specific technical details of CVE-2023-3996, including the vulnerability description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in the ARMember Lite plugin is classified as CWE-79: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'). It arises from the lack of proper input sanitization and output escaping in the admin settings.

Affected Systems and Versions

The ARMember Lite plugin versions up to and including 4.0.14 are affected by this vulnerability. Specifically, multi-site installations and instances where unfiltered_html has been disabled are susceptible.

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of CVE-2023-3996 requires authenticated access with administrator-level permissions. Attackers can inject malicious scripts via admin settings, which will execute when accessed by users.

Mitigation and Prevention

To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2023-3996, it is crucial to take immediate steps, implement long-term security practices, and apply necessary patches and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the ARMember Lite plugin to the latest version to ensure that the vulnerability is patched.
Monitor admin settings for any suspicious activities or unauthorized changes.
Review user permissions and restrict admin-level access to trusted individuals only.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and review plugins for security vulnerabilities.
Educate users on best practices for safe admin usage and content management.
Implement web application firewalls to detect and prevent XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories related to the ARMember Lite plugin and apply patches promptly. Regularly check for updates and ensure that all software components are up to date to mitigate the risk of such vulnerabilities in the future.