Security researchers have identified a critical stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the popular WordPress Simple HTML Sitemap plugin developed by Ashish Ajani. This vulnerability has been assigned the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) ID: CVE-2023-45067. The affected versions of the plugin are 2.1 and earlier. An attacker with contributor or higher permissions can exploit this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts on affected websites, potentially leading to data theft, defacements, and complete site compromise.
In this blog post, we will examine the details of this vulnerability, present a code snippet demonstrating the exploit, and provide links to the original security advisories and references. The content of this post is targeted towards web developers, security researchers, and website administrators who use the Ashish Ajani WordPress Simple HTML Sitemap plugin.
Vulnerability Details
The stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability exists in the "title" parameter of the Simple HTML Sitemap plugin shortcode. An attacker with contributor or higher permissions can insert malicious JavaScript code into the title, which will then be executed when a user views the sitemap on the affected website.
The following code snippet demonstrates the exploitation of CVE-2023-45067 vulnerability
[simple-html-sitemap title="<script>alert('XSS')</script>"]
By adding this shortcode to any editable page or post within an affected WordPress site, an attacker can trigger the stored XSS vulnerability, executing the alert('XSS') script for any user who views the page containing the malicious shortcode.
Original References
1. CVE Details - CVE-2023-45067
2. WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Database - Simple HTML Sitemap
Update the Simple HTML Sitemap plugin to version 2.2 or later.
2. Always follow the security best practices while managing user roles and permissions on your WordPress website. Limit contributor access to trusted users only.
3. Regularly scan your website for vulnerabilities and apply patches/updates as soon as they become available.
Conclusion
The CVE-2023-45067 vulnerability is a critical stored XSS vulnerability that affects the Ashish Ajani WordPress Simple HTML Sitemap plugin versions <= 2.1. Web developers, security researchers, and website administrators who utilize this plugin should take immediate action to update the plugin and follow the recommended mitigation strategies.
By staying informed about security vulnerabilities and taking appropriate actions in a timely manner, website owners can reduce the risk of a successful cyber attack and protect their valuable data and online presence.
Timeline
Published on: 10/18/2023 13:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 10/25/2023 17:22:34 UTC