Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A WordPress plugin used for responsive tab layouts can reflect attacker-supplied script into a page. The attacker does not need an account, but they must convince a user to open a crafted link. Successful exploitation could expose limited user data or alter page behavior in that user’s browser.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate remediation item. It is not listed as actively exploited in the provided sources, but public websites using the vulnerable plugin should be updated promptly because user-targeted links can trigger browser-side impact.
Technical view
CVE-2023-2184 is reflected XSS in WP Responsive Tabs horizontal vertical and accordion Tabs through the search_term parameter in versions up to 1.1.15. The issue is attributed to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. CVSS 3.1 is 6.1, with network access, low complexity, no privileges, and required user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running the named plugin at version 1.1.15 or earlier. Internet-facing sites have higher practical risk because attackers can send links to users, but exploitation still depends on user interaction.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The vulnerability is remotely reachable and unauthenticated, but it is reflected XSS, so the attacker must trick a victim into taking an action such as clicking a link.
Researcher notes
The evidence supports reflected XSS via search_term and a likely fixed version path from the WordPress Trac comparison between 1.1.15 and 1.1.16. The provided bundle does not include exploit telemetry, proof-of-concept details, or detailed vendor advisory text.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade the plugin beyond version 1.1.15 using vendor or WordPress plugin guidance.
- If upgrade is unavailable, disable or remove the plugin until guidance is confirmed.
- Use a WordPress security plugin or WAF to reduce reflected XSS attempts.
- Limit admin browsing from logged-in sessions until remediation is complete.
- Monitor vendor, CVE, and Wordfence pages for revised fix guidance.
Validation and detection
- Inventory WordPress sites for this plugin and record installed versions.
- Confirm no installation is running version 1.1.15 or earlier.
- Check whether plugin pages use the search_term parameter in user-facing flows.
- Review web logs for suspicious search_term requests without reproducing payloads.
- Recheck Wordfence and CVE records for later exploitation or fix updates.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-79: User-session and phishing behavior lookup
Client-side and session-facing weaknesses should be reviewed alongside initial-access and user-execution behaviors. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-2184 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N2.82.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.1MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/fe54c37f-1421-48aa-b502-045847d13ae3?source=cveCVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=2825016%40responsive-horizontal-vertical-and-accordion-tabs%2Ftags%2F1.1.15&new=2900990%40responsive-horizontal-vertical-and-accordion-tabs%2Ftags%2F1.1.16CVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.