Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A WordPress plugin used to import Excel spreadsheets can store unsafe input that later runs script in a viewer's browser. The business risk is moderate: exploitation requires some authenticated access and user interaction, but could still expose data, alter displayed content, or disrupt affected pages.
Executive priority
Treat this as a normal-priority remediation item unless the plugin is widely deployed or untrusted users can create imported spreadsheet content. Prioritize internet-facing WordPress sites, administrator-facing workflows, and sites handling sensitive data.
Technical view
CVE-2023-48289 is a CWE-79 stored XSS issue in SpreadsheetConverter Import Spreadsheets from Microsoft Excel through version 10.1.3. CVSS 3.1 is 6.5: network reachable, low complexity, low privileges required, user interaction required, changed scope, and low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites running the Import Spreadsheets from Microsoft Excel plugin at version 10.1.3 or earlier. Risk is higher where lower-privileged users can create or import spreadsheet-derived content viewed by administrators or site visitors.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not report active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked KEV. The CVSS vector indicates an attacker needs low privileges and a victim must interact with affected rendered content. Exact vulnerable fields, fixed version, and patch details are not provided in the bundle.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports stored XSS but does not describe the exact sink, trigger path, or remediation version. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the CVSS conditions. Validate exposure by installed plugin version and role access, then track vendor or Patchstack updates.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the affected plugin and version.
- Check vendor, WordPress, or Patchstack guidance for a confirmed fixed release.
- Update to a vendor-confirmed fixed version when available.
- Disable or remove the plugin where it is not required.
- Restrict spreadsheet import permissions to trusted administrators only.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether the plugin is installed on each WordPress site.
- Record the installed plugin version and flag 10.1.3 or earlier.
- Review which roles can import or manage spreadsheet content.
- Check vendor advisories for patch status before closing the finding.
- Monitor affected sites for unusual plugin or content-management 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-2023-48289 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
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.