Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-48336 is a stored cross-site scripting issue in the WordPress Easy Social Icons plugin through version 3.2.4. A successful attack could make a victim’s browser run attacker-controlled script when viewing affected plugin output. Business impact is usually moderate, but it can matter on sites with privileged WordPress users.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate website integrity risk. Prioritize internet-facing WordPress sites, especially those with multiple content editors or admin users who may view plugin-managed pages.
Technical view
The CVE describes CWE-79 improper neutralization during web page generation in cybernetikz Easy Social Icons. The CVSS 3.1 score is 6.5 with network access, low attack complexity, low privileges required, user interaction required, and changed scope. The bundle does not identify a fixed version or detailed vulnerable parameter.
Likely exposure
Likely exposed assets are WordPress sites with the Easy Social Icons plugin installed at version 3.2.4 or earlier. The source bundle does not provide CPEs or hosting-specific exposure signals.
Exploitation context
The CVE is not listed as KEV in the supplied bundle, and no cited source states active exploitation. Exploitation requires some privilege and user interaction according to the CVSS vector.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE metadata and Patchstack reference. The source bundle supports stored XSS through 3.2.4, but does not include proof-of-concept details, a fixed version, or active exploitation evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for Easy Social Icons installations.
- Check vendor, WordPress plugin, and Patchstack guidance for a fixed release.
- Update only to a vendor-supported fixed version if one is available.
- If no fix is available, assess disabling or removing the plugin.
- Limit WordPress accounts that can modify plugin-controlled content.
- Monitor affected sites for unexpected script-like content changes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Easy Social Icons is installed on each WordPress site.
- Record the installed plugin version and compare it with 3.2.4.
- Review whether plugin-controlled content is editable by low-privileged users.
- Check security tooling for alerts tied to CVE-2023-48336.
- Look for recent unexplained changes to social icon settings or output.
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-2023-48336 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.