CVE-2023-5661 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2023-5661 was assigned by Wordfence and was published on November 7, 2023. It pertains to a vulnerability in the Social Feed plugin for WordPress, affecting versions up to and including 1.5.4.6. The vulnerability allows for Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the plugin's 'socialfeed' shortcode due to inadequate input sanitization and output escaping. Authenticated attackers with author-level permissions or higher can inject malicious web scripts, which execute when a user accesses an affected page.

Understanding CVE-2023-5661

This section delves into the details of CVE-2023-5661, outlining its impact and technical aspects.

What is CVE-2023-5661?

CVE-2023-5661 involves a vulnerability in the Social Feed plugin for WordPress, enabling Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks through the 'socialfeed' shortcode.

The Impact of CVE-2023-5661

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk, with a CVSS base score of 6.4. It allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary web scripts on affected pages, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-5661

Understanding the technical specifics of CVE-2023-5661 is crucial for effective mitigation and prevention strategies.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping within the 'socialfeed' shortcode, facilitating Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks by authorized users.

Affected Systems and Versions

The Social Feed plugin for WordPress versions up to and including 1.5.4.6 is susceptible to this vulnerability, impacting websites that utilize this specific plugin version.

Exploitation Mechanism

Authenticated attackers with author-level permissions or higher can exploit the vulnerability by injecting malicious web scripts using the 'socialfeed' shortcode, which execute when accessed by users.

Mitigation and Prevention

Taking immediate action to address CVE-2023-5661 is crucial in safeguarding WordPress websites from potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Social Feed plugin to a version beyond 1.5.4.6 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor and review website content to detect any injected malicious scripts.
Consider restricting author-level and above permissions to minimize the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities proactively.
Educate website administrators and users about safe practices to prevent XSS attacks.
Utilize security plugins or tools to enhance overall website security posture.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates released by plugin developers and promptly apply patches to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-5661. Regularly updating plugins and themes is essential for maintaining a secure WordPress environment.