CVE-2023-6987: string locator XSS — Fix

Description

The String locator plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the 'sql-column' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 2.6.5 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link. This required WP_DEBUG to be enabled in order to be exploited.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

6.1

MEDIUM

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

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting (XSS)

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
instawp	string_locator	< 2.6.6

References

Advisories & Patches

https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3139143/string-locator/tags/2.6.6/includes/Extension/SQL/views/editor/sql.php

Other References

https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/18e0140e-ac24-48c6-aea0-bb0da203a817?source=cve

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-6987? +

The String locator plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Reflected Cross-Site Scripting via the 'sql-column' parameter in all versions up to, and including, 2.6.5 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that execute if they can successfully trick a user into performing an action such as clicking on a link. This required WP_DEBUG to be enabled in order to be exploited. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.1 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2023-6987? +

CVE-2023-6987 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 6.1 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-6987? +

CVE-2023-6987 affects products from instawp, specifically: string_locator. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2023-6987? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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CVE-2023-6987