WordPress Core < 6.2.2 - Shortcode Execution in User Generated Content

2023-05-19 00:00

Strategic Overview

Status: Patched in 5.9.7
Affected Core: WordPress 6.2
Affected Version: 5.9 – < 6.2.2 · 4 branches
CVSS: 6.5Medium
Weakness type: CWE-349 · Acceptance of Extraneous Untrusted Data With Trusted Data
CVE: CVE pending

At a glance

This record tracks a medium-severity Acceptance of Extraneous Untrusted Data With Trusted Data vulnerability in the WordPress 6.2 WordPress release line, affecting 5.9 – < 6.2.2 · 4 branches. It carries a CVSS score of 6.5 (reachable over the network; low attack complexity). Exploitation requires no authentication. The issue is fixed in version 5.9.7; sites on affected versions should update now. Disclosed May 2023, reported by Liam Gladdy.

Vulnerability Overview

WordPress Core processes shortcodes in user-generated content on block themes in versions up to, and including, 6.2.1. This could allow unauthenticated attackers to execute shortcodes via submitting comments or other content, allowing them to exploit vulnerabilities that typically require Subscriber or Contributor-level permissions. While this is likely to have minimal impact on its own, it can significantly increase the severity of other vulnerabilities.

Technical Analysis

The vector marks this flaw as remotely reachable over the network, with low attack complexity — no special timing or configuration is needed, and no privileges on the target site, and no interaction from a victim user.

CWE-349: Acceptance of Extraneous Untrusted Data With Trusted Data

The product, when processing trusted data, accepts any untrusted data that is also included with the trusted data, treating the untrusted data as if it were trusted.

Remediation

Update to one of the following versions, or a newer patched version: 5.9.7, 6.0.5, 6.1.3, 6.2.2

How does WordSec protect against this?

The fix is the thing that ends this: updating to 5.9.7 is the step that ends it.

Alerts

External References

https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/4e3a6fe2-6292-44ff-8925-a4aeb77c2a7f

Related records

Same weakness class

6.5WordPress Core < 6.2.1 Shortcode Execution in User Generated Content

Other vulnerabilities in WordPress 6.2

CVSS Vector

6.5

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N

Base

Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredNone
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityLow
IntegrityLow
AvailabilityNone

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