Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-30745 affects the WordPress IP Metaboxes plugin up to version 2.1.1. An authenticated administrator could store script content that later runs when another user views affected content. The business risk is usually constrained by the need for admin access, but it can still matter on shared, delegated, or compromised WordPress sites.
Executive priority
Handle during the next WordPress maintenance cycle unless the site has many administrators or signs of compromise. Escalate sooner for high-value public sites, delegated admin environments, or any instance where plugin support or patch status cannot be confirmed.
Technical view
The issue is stored cross-site scripting, CWE-79, in Phan Chuong IP Metaboxes for WordPress <=2.1.1. CVSS 3.1 is 5.9 with network access, low attack complexity, high privileges required, user interaction required, and changed scope. The source bundle does not name a fixed version or detailed mitigation.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress installations running the IP Metaboxes plugin at version 2.1.1 or earlier. Risk is higher where many users have administrator-level access, admin accounts are shared, or WordPress administration is weakly protected.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cite active exploitation. Exploitation requires authenticated admin-level access and a user interaction condition, so this is not presented as a broad unauthenticated internet-scale issue.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports authenticated admin-level stored XSS but does not provide root-cause detail, vulnerable parameters, patch commit, or active exploitation. Avoid assuming broader role access or a fixed release unless confirmed from vendor or Patchstack updates.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for IP Metaboxes and record installed versions.
- Check vendor and Patchstack guidance for a fixed version or official remediation.
- Disable or remove the plugin where it is unused or unsupported.
- Restrict WordPress administrator access to trusted, MFA-protected accounts.
- Review recent admin activity on sites running affected plugin versions.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether IP Metaboxes is installed and at version 2.1.1 or earlier.
- Review WordPress user roles for unnecessary administrator-level accounts.
- Check plugin-controlled content for unexpected stored script-like values without executing them.
- After remediation, verify the plugin version or removal state in WordPress.
- Review logs for suspicious admin changes around metabox content.
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-2023-30745 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
- 5.9 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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:H/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L1.73.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.9MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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.