CVE-2023-29172 - Unauthenticated Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability Found in PropertyHive Plugin Versions <= 1.5.46

In recent times, cyber-attacks have become a major concern for both small and large-scale businesses. To make matters worse, hidden vulnerabilities in common web-based applications can significantly increase the chances of successful cyberattacks on clients' browsers. One such vulnerability, CVE-2023-29172, has been discovered in PropertyHive plugin versions 1.5.46 and below. PropertyHive is a well-known WordPress plugin that's widely used to manage real estate websites.

In this post, we candidly discuss the CVE-2023-29172 vulnerability, the specific versions affected, the details of the exploit, and the necessary steps to mitigate it. Importantly, we would include code snippets and links to original references to make it easier for you to understand the process involved to fix this issue.

CVE-2023-29172: The Unauthenticated Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerability

Before we delve into the specific details of the exploit, let us briefly clarify what unauthenticated reflected XSS vulnerability means.

An unauthenticated reflected XSS attack occurs when an attacker injects malicious code into a web application's URL. The attack is deemed unauthenticated because it requires no authentication to access it. Consequently, any user with minimal technical know-how can exploit the vulnerability if they come across it on your website.

Vulnerable PropertyHive Plugin Versions

As mentioned earlier, PropertyHive plugin versions 1.5.46 and below are vulnerable to CVE-2023-29172. It is crucial to point out that this issue has been addressed in version 1.5.47 of the plugin. Therefore, upgrading to version 1.5.47 or later is highly recommended to fix the vulnerability.

Exploit Details

The specific vulnerability occurs within the "search_results" page of the PropertyHive plugin. Particularly, this arises due to insufficient input filtration, which allows the attacker to include malicious JavaScript code in the URL parameters that can be executed by other users' browsers.

Here's an example of the exploit's code snippet

http://yourwebsite.com/search_results/?department=residential-sales<SCRIPT>alert('XSS-Attack')</SCRIPT>;

Once an unsuspecting user clicks on a link like this, the JavaScript code executes and displays an alert box with 'XSS-Attack' text. Although it seems innocuous, attackers can potentially steal sensitive information, such as login credentials or session tokens, using more sophisticated payloads.

To prevent the exploitation of CVE-2023-29172 vulnerability, you should follow these guidelines

1. Update PropertyHive plugin: First and foremost, update the PropertyHive plugin to version 1.5.47 or later. As stated before, this version had already fixed the vulnerability issue. You can download the latest version of the plugin from the official WordPress repository here: https://wordpress.org/plugins/propertyhive/

2. Employ the Content Security Policy (CSP): Include Content Security Policy (CSP) in your website to block XSS attacks even when the malicious code finds its way to the pages. CSP is an additional security layer that controls the types of resources that a browser is allowed to load by specifying valid sources of content. Visit https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/HTTP/CSP for guides on implementing CSP.

Conclusion

While the CVE-2023-29172 vulnerability poses a crucial security threat to WordPress websites running PropertyHive plugin versions 1.5.46 and below, following the mitigation steps mentioned above will effectively safeguard your website from unauthenticated reflected XSS attacks.

We hope that this post has provided you with a comprehensive understanding of the CVE-2023-29172 vulnerability, its exploit, and the necessary steps to fix it on your website. Always remember to stay updated on the latest security vulnerabilities and patches to protect your online presence.

Timeline

Published on: 04/07/2023 15:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 04/13/2023 17:29:00 UTC