CVE-2023-5659 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

This CVE-2023-5659 relates to a vulnerability in the Interact: Embed A Quiz On Your Site plugin for WordPress, impacting versions up to and including 3.0.7. The vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level and above permissions to execute arbitrary web scripts via stored cross-site scripting.

Understanding CVE-2023-5659

The Interact: Embed A Quiz On Your Site plugin for WordPress is susceptible to stored cross-site scripting attacks due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping on user-supplied attributes.

What is CVE-2023-5659?

This vulnerability in the WordPress plugin enables authenticated attackers to inject malicious web scripts via the 'interact-quiz' shortcode, leading to script execution on accessed pages.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5659

The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers with specific access levels to compromise the integrity and security of WordPress websites where the plugin is installed.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5659

The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting'). The CVSS v3.1 base score for this vulnerability is 6.4, categorizing it as a medium severity issue.

Vulnerability Description

Insufficient input sanitization and output escaping in the 'interact-quiz' shortcode allow authenticated attackers to insert and execute arbitrary web scripts on affected WordPress sites.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Interact: Embed A Quiz On Your Site plugin versions up to and including 3.0.7 are impacted by this vulnerability, affecting WordPress sites utilizing these plugin versions.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with contributor-level and above permissions can exploit this vulnerability by injecting malicious scripts through the 'interact-quiz' shortcode, leading to the execution of unauthorized scripts on target pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-5659, immediate remediation steps and long-term security practices are crucial to mitigate the risk of exploitation and uphold the security of WordPress sites.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Interact: Embed A Quiz On Your Site plugin to a secure version beyond 3.0.7 to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor and review user permissions to limit access levels and reduce the attack surface for potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security audits and vulnerability assessments on WordPress plugins to identify and address potential risks promptly.
Educate users on secure coding practices and the importance of input validation to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by the plugin vendor. Promptly apply relevant updates to ensure the timely mitigation of known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-5659.