Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A logged-in user with access to the WordPress plugin may inject script-related HTML into pages using Tabs & Accordion. That can alter site content or disrupt affected pages. The provided sources do not show unauthenticated exploitation or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate website integrity issue. Prioritize public WordPress sites and sites with many content contributors, but do not treat it like unauthenticated remote code execution based on the provided evidence.
Technical view
CVE-2023-40557 is a Basic XSS/content injection issue, CWE-80, in PickPlugins Tabs & Accordion for WordPress through 1.3.10. CVSS 3.1 is 5.4, with network reachability, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and low integrity and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running PickPlugins Tabs & Accordion in the affected version range. Risk is higher where many users can create, edit, or manage plugin-backed content.
Exploitation context
The CVSS vector indicates a low-privileged authenticated attacker can trigger the issue over the network without user interaction. The bundle marks KEV false and provides no evidence of active exploitation.
Researcher notes
There is a source mismatch: the CVE description says affected through 1.3.10, while the Patchstack reference title mentions 1.3.8. Use the CVE range as the conservative exposure boundary until vendor guidance clarifies fixed versions.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for PickPlugins Tabs & Accordion installations.
- Flag installations at versions through 1.3.10 as affected.
- Check vendor or Patchstack guidance for the fixed version or recommended action.
- Update, disable, or remove the plugin according to trusted vendor guidance.
- Restrict content and plugin-management permissions to trusted users.
Validation and detection
- Confirm the installed plugin slug and version on each WordPress site.
- Review role assignments for users able to edit affected plugin content.
- Inspect affected pages for unexpected injected markup or unauthorized content changes.
- Check web and WordPress logs for suspicious authenticated content edits.
- Retest after remediation to confirm affected versions are no longer present.
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-80: 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-2023-40557 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
- 5.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L2.82.5Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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 Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS)
Improper Neutralization of Script-Related HTML Tags in a Web Page (Basic XSS) represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.