Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This WordPress plugin flaw lets an unauthenticated attacker store malicious script through an email subject. The script can run later when a user opens the affected plugin page. For businesses, the risk is compromise of WordPress administrative sessions or sensitive page data on sites using Mail Control versions up to 0.2.8.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation on any production WordPress site using this plugin. The issue is not shown as actively exploited in the provided sources, but unauthenticated stored XSS can create real account and data exposure risk when administrators view affected pages.
Technical view
CVE-2023-3158 is stored cross-site scripting in Mail Control <= 0.2.8. The reported cause is insufficient input sanitization and output escaping for email subject data. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.2 with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, changed scope, and low confidentiality and integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running the Mail Control plugin at versions up to and including 0.2.8. Risk is higher where unauthenticated users can influence email subjects that are later displayed in plugin pages or logs.
Exploitation context
The source bundle says unauthenticated attackers can inject scripts that execute when a user accesses an injected page. CISA KEV is false, and the provided sources do not state known active exploitation or public exploit use.
Researcher notes
The evidence identifies CWE-79 and points to WordPress plugin code and a changeset, but the bundle does not name a specific fixed version. Avoid assuming exploit status or patch level beyond versions up to 0.2.8 being vulnerable.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Mail Control plugin and version.
- If version is <= 0.2.8, follow vendor guidance for updating or remediation.
- Disable or remove the plugin where no trusted fixed release is available.
- Restrict administrative access to WordPress while remediation is pending.
- Review plugin pages that display email subjects for proper output escaping.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Mail Control is installed on each WordPress instance.
- Verify installed versions are not up to and including 0.2.8.
- Review email log records for unusual script-like content in subject fields.
- Confirm remediation escapes stored subject content before page rendering.
- Check security monitoring for suspicious WordPress admin page activity.
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-2023-3158 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
- High
- CVSS
- 7.2 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N3.92.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.2HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/77537eb8-1c84-4702-aba1-727b0de1c3e1?source=cveCVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/mail-control/trunk/includes/admin.php#L42CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=2943913%40mail-control&new=2943913%40mail-control&sfp_email=&sfph_mail=CVE 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.
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.