Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This vulnerability affects WordPress sites using the Bainternet ShortCodes UI plugin through version 1.9.8. A contributor-level or higher user could store malicious script content that runs when another user views it. The risk is moderate because exploitation requires an authenticated user and victim interaction, but impact can cross user boundaries inside the site.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate-priority WordPress hygiene issue. Prioritize sites where contributors, authors, contractors, or shared accounts can create content. Escalate if the plugin is present on public-facing or business-critical sites and no fixed version is available from the vendor.
Technical view
CVE-2023-47231 is a CWE-79 stored cross-site scripting issue in Bainternet ShortCodes UI for WordPress, reported for versions <= 1.9.8. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.5 with low attack complexity, required low privileges, required user interaction, and changed scope. Sources do not provide exploit details or a named fixed version.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress installations with the ShortCodes UI plugin installed at version 1.9.8 or earlier. The described attacker must have contributor-level or higher access. Sites without this plugin, or with no untrusted contributor-level users, are less likely exposed based on the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation is described as authenticated stored XSS, requiring contributor-or-higher privileges and a later user interaction. Successful abuse could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability at low levels in the victim browser context.
Researcher notes
The key constraints are authenticated contributor+ access and user interaction. The CVSS vector is AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L. Evidence is incomplete on fixed versions and exploit activity, so avoid assuming patch status beyond the cited <=1.9.8 affected range.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Bainternet ShortCodes UI plugin.
- Check whether installed versions are 1.9.8 or earlier.
- Review vendor or Patchstack guidance for an official fixed version or mitigation.
- Disable or remove the plugin where it is unnecessary.
- Restrict contributor-level access to trusted users only.
Validation and detection
- Confirm plugin name and version from WordPress administration or asset inventory.
- Identify users with contributor-level or higher roles on affected sites.
- Review recent shortcode-related content changes by lower-privileged users.
- Check security monitoring for stored XSS alerts tied to WordPress content.
- Document whether a vendor-supported remediation is available.
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-2023-47231 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.