CVE-2023-6050 is a reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Estatik Real Estate Plugin for WordPress, affecting versions prior to 4.1.1. The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to properly sanitize and escape various input parameters and generated URLs before embedding them into HTML attributes. This improper handling allows an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code that is reflected back to the user’s browser. When a high-privilege user, such as a WordPress administrator, interacts with a crafted URL or input, the malicious script executes in their browser context. This can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions within the WordPress admin interface. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, which pertains to improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.1 (medium severity), with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), scope changed (S:C), and impacts on confidentiality and integrity but not availability (C:L/I:L/A:N). No known exploits have been reported in the wild, and no official patches or updates are linked in the provided data, though version 4.1.1 or later presumably addresses the issue. The vulnerability affects the Estatik Real Estate Plugin, a tool used to manage real estate listings on WordPress sites, which may be deployed by real estate agencies, property managers, or related businesses.

For European organizations, especially those in the real estate sector using WordPress with the Estatik plugin, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of administrative users, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, manipulation of property listings, or further compromise of the WordPress environment. This could result in data breaches involving client information, reputational damage, and operational disruption. Given the plugin’s role in managing real estate listings, attackers might also deface listings or inject fraudulent content, impacting business credibility. The requirement for user interaction (clicking a malicious link) somewhat limits the attack vector but does not eliminate risk, especially if phishing or social engineering tactics are employed. The confidentiality and integrity impacts are notable, though availability is unaffected. The medium CVSS score reflects these considerations. European organizations with public-facing WordPress sites using this plugin should consider the threat significant enough to warrant prompt action.

1. Immediate update to Estatik Real Estate Plugin version 4.1.1 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed. If an update is not yet available, consider temporarily disabling the plugin or restricting access to the affected functionality. 2. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules to detect and block reflected XSS attack patterns targeting the plugin’s parameters. 3. Educate administrative users about phishing risks and the dangers of clicking suspicious links, as user interaction is required for exploitation. 4. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability scans on WordPress installations to identify outdated plugins and potential injection points. 5. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in the browser context, mitigating the impact of XSS. 6. Monitor logs for unusual activity or access patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation. 7. For organizations with custom integrations or modifications of the plugin, review code to ensure proper input sanitization and output escaping consistent with secure coding standards.