Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-45771 is a reflected cross-site scripting flaw in the WordPress Contact Form With Captcha plugin through version 1.6.8. A victim must interact with a crafted request or link. Successful exploitation could expose or alter limited browser-session data in the affected site context.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for public WordPress sites using this plugin, especially where staff or customers authenticate. It is not proven actively exploited from the supplied sources, but XSS in public forms can create brand, data, and account-risk exposure.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-79 improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.1 with network access, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and changed scope. The provided sources identify the package as contact-form-with-captcha and affected versions through 1.6.8.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites that have Contact Form With Captcha installed at version 1.6.8 or earlier. The bundle provides no CPEs and no evidence of exposure outside that plugin.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. The vulnerability is reflected XSS, so exploitation depends on getting a user to visit or submit attacker-influenced content to the affected site.
Researcher notes
Evidence is sparse: the bundle identifies reflected XSS, CVSS 7.1, CWE-79, and affected versions through 1.6.8, but does not include payload details, patch version, exploit status, or detailed vulnerable parameters. Avoid assuming broader product impact.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the contact-form-with-captcha plugin and version.
- Check vendor or Patchstack guidance for a fixed version or recommended remediation.
- Disable or remove the plugin where no validated fix is available.
- Prioritize remediation on public sites with authenticated users or administrators.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether contact-form-with-captcha is installed and at or below version 1.6.8.
- Verify remediated sites no longer run vulnerable plugin versions.
- Review web and application logs for unusual requests to contact form endpoints.
- Document affected sites, remediation status, and any compensating controls.
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-2023-45771 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
- 7.1 (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: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:N/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L2.83.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.1HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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.