WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Report – Ultimate Dashboard – Authenticated (Administrator+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via plugin settings – CVE-2023-4726

Q: What is Ultimate Dashboard and why is it vulnerable?

What is Ultimate Dashboard and why is it vulnerable? Ultimate Dashboard is a popular WordPress plugin that enhances the dashboard experience for managing WordPress sites. It has over 500,000 downloads and 60,000 active installs. A vulnerability was recently disclosed that affects versions up to and including 3.7.7. This vulnerability allows authenticated users with admin access to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's settings pages. Insufficient input sanitization led to this vulnerability.

Q: How serious is this vulnerability in Ultimate Dashboard?

How serious is this vulnerability in Ultimate Dashboard? This vulnerability is considered medium severity with a CVSS base score of 4.4 out of 10. While not critical, it does allow attackers to potentially conduct serious malicious activities if exploited. The ability to inject scripts opens up risks of session hijacking, privilege escalation, and other attacks. So it is not a vulnerability to ignore.

Q: How can this vulnerability be exploited?

How can this vulnerability be exploited? For this vulnerability to be exploited, an attacker would need admin access to the WordPress site. They could then inject malicious scripts into the Ultimate Dashboard plugin settings pages. When other admins access these pages, the scripts would execute giving the attacker access to their session, elevated privileges, or allowing other malicious actions.

Q: Is my WordPress site at risk if I use Ultimate Dashboard?

Is my WordPress site at risk if I use Ultimate Dashboard? If you are running a version of Ultimate Dashboard earlier than 3.7.8, your site is technically vulnerable. The risks increase if you have multiple admins, allow plugin uploads, or have any other factors that could potentially allow someone to gain admin access. We recommend updating Ultimate Dashboard as soon as possible just to be safe.

Q: How do I update Ultimate Dashboard to patch this vulnerability?

How do I update Ultimate Dashboard to patch this vulnerability? Updating Ultimate Dashboard is very straightforward. First, backup your site. Then log into your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins, and click Update for Ultimate Dashboard. It will download and install version 3.7.8 or newer, which resolves this vulnerability. Be sure to delete any suspicious scripts that may have been injected already.

Q: Are other WordPress plugins affected?

Are other WordPress plugins affected? No, this specific vulnerability only affects Ultimate Dashboard. But in general, all plugins can contain vulnerabilities, so it is smart to keep them all updated consistently. Review your installed plugins periodically and update any out of date ones to stay secure.

Q: Is my WordPress site safe if I don't use Ultimate Dashboard?

Is my WordPress site safe if I don't use Ultimate Dashboard? Even if you don't use Ultimate Dashboard, your site may still be vulnerable to other threats if you are not diligent about updates. It is smart to be proactive and keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated even if there are no active threats. Outdated software is susceptible to newly discovered exploits.

Q: What can happen if my site is compromised via this vulnerability?

What can happen if my site is compromised via this vulnerability? If an attacker can successfully exploit this vulnerability, the impacts could include compromised administrator accounts, data theft, malware infections, SEO spam, loss of functionality, and complete site takeover. The attacker could gain administrator access and do anything an admin user can do.

Q: Could outdated themes also put my site at risk?

Could outdated themes also put my site at risk? Yes, absolutely. Outdated themes can potentially contain serious vulnerabilities just like plugins. It is critical to keep themes updated as well to ensure they have the latest security fixes and patches. Schedule regular reviews of all software on your WordPress site.

Q: What can I do to improve the security of my WordPress site?

What can I do to improve the security of my WordPress site? Some best practices include: Update WordPress, plugins, and themes frequently Limit administrator accounts Use strong passwords Avoid plugins from unofficial sources Install a security plugin like Wordfence Use SFTP instead of FTP Backup your site regularly Monitoring for malware and unauthorized changes Staying on top of updates and limiting access are the most critical steps to securing WordPress.

By Your WP Guy | November 13, 2023

Plugin Name: Ultimate Dashboard

Key Information:

Software Type: Plugin
Software Slug: ultimate-dashboard
Software Status: Active
Software Author: davidvongries
Software Downloads: 539,497
Active Installs: 60,000
Last Updated: November 13, 2023
Patched Versions: 3.7.8
Affected Versions: <= 3.7.7

Vulnerability Details:

Name: Ultimate Dashboard <= 3.7.7 - Authenticated (Administrator+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via plugin settings
Title: Authenticated (Administrator+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via plugin settings
Type: Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
CVE: CVE-2023-4726
CVSS Score: 4.4 (Medium)
Publicly Published: November 13, 2023
Researcher: Marco Wotschka
Description: The Ultimate Dashboard plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via admin settings in versions up to, and including, 3.7.7. due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers, with administrator-level permissions and above, to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page. This only affects multi-site installations and installations where unfiltered_html has been disabled.

Summary:

The Ultimate Dashboard for WordPress has a vulnerability in versions up to and including 3.7.7 that allows authenticated users with admin access to inject malicious scripts. This vulnerability has been patched in version 3.7.8.

Detailed Overview:

The Ultimate Dashboard plugin up to version 3.7.7 has an input validation vulnerability where insufficient sanitization of data allows authenticated users with admin access to store cross-site scripts (XSS) in admin settings. This was discovered by researcher Marco Wotschka and assigned CVE-2023-4726 with a CVSS score of 4.4 (Medium). The vulnerability allows malicious scripts to be injected into admin pages and executed when other admin users load affected pages. This presents a risk of session hijacking, privilege escalation, and other attacks. Users are advised to update to version 3.7.8 or newer which properly sanitizes input data to prevent XSS attacks.

Advice for Users:

Immediate Action: Update to version 3.7.8 or newer to patch this vulnerability.
Check for Signs of Vulnerability: Review Ultimate Dashboard admin settings and all admin pages for unauthorized code injections or other malicious content.
Alternate Plugins: Consider alternative dashboard plugins like Admin Columns or Admin Menu Editor for enhanced security.
Stay Updated: Ensure Ultimate Dashboard and all other plugins are updated promptly to avoid vulnerabilities.

Conclusion:

The quick response by the developers to patch this stored XSS vulnerability demonstrates the need for prompt updates. Users should update to version 3.7.8 or newer to ensure their WordPress sites are not vulnerable.

References:

https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-plugins/ultimate-dashboard

https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/wordpress-plugins/ultimate-dashboard/ultimate-dashboard-377-authenticated-administrator-stored-cross-site-scripting-via-plugin-settings

Detailed Report:

Keeping your WordPress website secure requires constant vigilance - new threats emerge daily. One such threat is a recently disclosed vulnerability in the popular Ultimate Dashboard plugin that allows attackers to inject malicious code into your site. If you use this plugin, your site could be at risk until you update.

In this post, we’ll break down this new vulnerability, explain how it works, and most importantly, what you need to do to protect your site. Vulnerabilities like this underline the importance of prompt updates for all plugins and themes. Outdated software is the easiest route for attackers to compromise your site.

About the Plugin

Ultimate Dashboard is a popular WordPress plugin with over 500,000 downloads. It provides an enhanced dashboard experience for managing WordPress sites. This plugin is actively maintained and has over 60,000 active installs.

The Vulnerability

Researcher Marco Wotschka recently disclosed a vulnerability in Ultimate Dashboard versions up to and including 3.7.7. This vulnerability allows authenticated users with admin access to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's settings pages. The vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2023-4726 and has a CVSS severity score of 4.4 out of 10.

Risks

This vulnerability allows attackers to potentially hijack admin sessions, escalate privileges, or conduct other malicious activities by injecting malicious scripts. These scripts would execute for any administrators accessing a compromised admin page.

Remediation

The good news is that the Ultimate Dashboard developers have already issued patch in version 3.7.8. To fix this vulnerability, simply update the plugin to the latest version. We recommend deleting any suspicious looking scripts that may have been injected before updating.

Previous Vulnerabilities

This is the 2nd vulnerability disclosed in Ultimate Dashboard since May 2023, underscoring the importance of prompt updates.

Conclusion

As a business owner, you don't have time to constantly monitor for WordPress vulnerabilities like this. At Your WP Guy, we become your outsourced IT team to handle security, updates, maintenance and support. Let us fully audit your site and plugins to assess any impact from this issue. We'll update everything to patched versions so you can rest easy knowing your site is locked down.

Focus on your business goals while we focus on your WordPress site's security. Chat with us anytime during business hours, schedule a call or call 678-995-5169 for a free consultation on securing your online presence.

WordPress Plugin Vulnerability Report – Ultimate Dashboard – Authenticated (Administrator+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting via plugin settings – CVE-2023-4726 FAQs

What is Ultimate Dashboard and why is it vulnerable?

Ultimate Dashboard is a popular WordPress plugin that enhances the dashboard experience for managing WordPress sites. It has over 500,000 downloads and 60,000 active installs. A vulnerability was recently disclosed that affects versions up to and including 3.7.7. This vulnerability allows authenticated users with admin access to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's settings pages. Insufficient input sanitization led to this vulnerability.

How serious is this vulnerability in Ultimate Dashboard?

This vulnerability is considered medium severity with a CVSS base score of 4.4 out of 10. While not critical, it does allow attackers to potentially conduct serious malicious activities if exploited. The ability to inject scripts opens up risks of session hijacking, privilege escalation, and other attacks. So it is not a vulnerability to ignore.

How can this vulnerability be exploited?

For this vulnerability to be exploited, an attacker would need admin access to the WordPress site. They could then inject malicious scripts into the Ultimate Dashboard plugin settings pages. When other admins access these pages, the scripts would execute giving the attacker access to their session, elevated privileges, or allowing other malicious actions.

Is my WordPress site at risk if I use Ultimate Dashboard?

If you are running a version of Ultimate Dashboard earlier than 3.7.8, your site is technically vulnerable. The risks increase if you have multiple admins, allow plugin uploads, or have any other factors that could potentially allow someone to gain admin access. We recommend updating Ultimate Dashboard as soon as possible just to be safe.

How do I update Ultimate Dashboard to patch this vulnerability?

Updating Ultimate Dashboard is very straightforward. First, backup your site. Then log into your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins, and click Update for Ultimate Dashboard. It will download and install version 3.7.8 or newer, which resolves this vulnerability. Be sure to delete any suspicious scripts that may have been injected already.

Are other WordPress plugins affected?

Is my WordPress site safe if I don't use Ultimate Dashboard?

What can happen if my site is compromised via this vulnerability?

Could outdated themes also put my site at risk?

What can I do to improve the security of my WordPress site?

Some best practices include:

Update WordPress, plugins, and themes frequently
Limit administrator accounts
Use strong passwords
Avoid plugins from unofficial sources
Install a security plugin like Wordfence
Use SFTP instead of FTP
Backup your site regularly
Monitoring for malware and unauthorized changes

Staying on top of updates and limiting access are the most critical steps to securing WordPress.

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Posted in Security, Vulnerabilities and tagged code injection, Cross-Site Scripting, CVE-2023-4726, Plugin Vulnerability, ultimate dashboard, update plugins, Website Security, wordpress security, XSS