Overview
CVE-2023-53735 describes a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability found in WEBIGniter version 28.7.23. This vulnerability resides within the user creation process, allowing unauthenticated attackers to inject and execute malicious JavaScript code. Exploiting this flaw could lead to various security risks, including session hijacking, defacement, and data theft. This article provides a detailed analysis of the vulnerability, its potential impact, and recommended mitigation steps.
Technical Details
The XSS vulnerability exists due to insufficient sanitization and validation of user-supplied input during the user creation process. Specifically, an attacker can inject malicious JavaScript code into fields such as the username, email address, or other profile information. When a legitimate user accesses the affected page or interacts with the manipulated data, the injected JavaScript code will execute in their browser, allowing the attacker to perform actions on behalf of the user.
This is a stored (or persistent) XSS vulnerability, meaning the malicious payload is stored on the server (e.g., in the database) and executed whenever a user views the affected content. Because the user creation process is affected, even a new WEBIGniter instance could be vulnerable if exposed without proper security measures.
CVSS Analysis
As of the published date of this analysis (2025-12-04), the CVSS score for CVE-2023-53735 is currently listed as N/A. However, based on the nature of the vulnerability being an unauthenticated, stored XSS, it is likely to receive a high CVSS score, especially if it can be leveraged to gain administrative privileges. We recommend monitoring the VulnCheck advisory for updates on the official CVSS score when it becomes available. A successful exploit does not require any authentication; therefore, the attack complexity might be low.
Possible Impact
The successful exploitation of CVE-2023-53735 can lead to a range of severe consequences:
- Account Takeover: Attackers can steal user session cookies and hijack user accounts.
- Data Theft: Sensitive information stored within the WEBIGniter application can be accessed and exfiltrated.
- Website Defacement: Attackers can modify the website’s appearance or redirect users to malicious websites.
- Malware Distribution: The vulnerability can be used to deliver malware to unsuspecting users.
- Privilege Escalation: In some cases, attackers may be able to escalate their privileges and gain administrative access to the WEBIGniter application.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2023-53735, the following steps are recommended:
- Upgrade WEBIGniter: Upgrade to a patched version of WEBIGniter that addresses this vulnerability. Check the official WEBIGniter website for updates.
- Input Sanitization: Implement robust input sanitization and validation measures on all user-supplied data, especially during user creation. Use appropriate encoding techniques to prevent the execution of malicious JavaScript code.
- Output Encoding: Encode all user-generated content before displaying it on the webpage to prevent XSS attacks.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Deploy a WAF to detect and block malicious requests targeting the vulnerability.
- Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities in your WEBIGniter application.
