Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A WordPress plugin used for Google Maps can let a logged-in contributor inject script into site content or admin views. This is not a server takeover by itself, but it can steal data, alter pages, or affect administrators who view the crafted content.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate WordPress application risk. Prioritize sites with many contributors, public registration, high-value administrators, or sensitive customer-facing content. It is less urgent than unauthenticated remote code execution but should not remain open.
Technical view
CVE-2023-23864 is an authenticated contributor-plus cross-site scripting issue in Michael Aronoff Very Simple Google Maps up to version 2.8.4. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.5 with low attack complexity, required privileges, required user interaction, and changed scope.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites with the Very Simple Google Maps plugin installed at version 2.8.4 or earlier, especially where contributor-level users are allowed to create or edit content.
Exploitation context
The supplied sources do not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates network reachability, low complexity, low privileges, and required user interaction. A malicious or compromised contributor account is the most relevant risk scenario.
Researcher notes
The bundle identifies CWE-79 and contributor-plus authentication, but does not provide vulnerable parameters, proof of concept, or a named fixed version. Avoid assuming exploit maturity or remediation specifics beyond checking official guidance and reducing plugin exposure.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Very Simple Google Maps plugin.
- Check vendor or Patchstack guidance for a fixed release or supported workaround.
- Update the plugin if a fixed version is available from a trusted source.
- Disable or remove the plugin where it is not required.
- Restrict contributor-level access to trusted accounts only.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether the plugin package very-simple-google-maps is installed.
- Record the installed plugin version on each WordPress site.
- Flag any installation at version 2.8.4 or earlier.
- Review contributor and author accounts for unnecessary access.
- Check security monitoring for suspicious script injection indicators.
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-2023-23864 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
- 6.5 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
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:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L2.33.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.5MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Source materials
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.
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting')
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.