Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
WP Tabs for WordPress versions through 2.2.0 can store unsafe input that later runs as script in another user’s browser. This is a medium-severity stored XSS issue. Business impact is most relevant on WordPress sites where lower-privileged users can create or edit tab content viewed by administrators or visitors.
Executive priority
Treat this as a routine but time-sensitive WordPress plugin remediation. Prioritize public sites, sites with multiple content editors, and sites where administrators view user-submitted tab content. There is no supplied evidence of active exploitation, but stored XSS can support account compromise and brand-impacting site changes.
Technical view
CVE-2023-52124 is CWE-79 stored cross-site scripting in ShapedPlugin LLC WP Tabs – Responsive Tabs Plugin for WordPress, package wp-expand-tabs-free, through version 2.2.0. CVSS 3.1 is 6.5 with network access, low attack 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 WP Tabs – Responsive Tabs Plugin for WordPress through 2.2.0. Risk increases where non-admin users, contributors, editors, or compromised accounts can submit plugin-managed tab content that other users later view.
Exploitation context
The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates exploitation requires low privileges and user interaction. No exploit details are provided in the source bundle, so operational exploit maturity is unknown from the supplied evidence.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to CVE and Patchstack metadata. The bundle identifies the affected product and range through 2.2.0 but does not name a fixed version, patch commit, vulnerable parameter, or exploit path. Avoid assuming exploitability beyond the CVSS requirements and stored XSS classification.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the WP Tabs plugin and installed version.
- If version is 2.2.0 or earlier, check vendor or Patchstack guidance for a fixed release.
- Remove or disable the plugin where no vendor-supported remediation is available.
- Restrict tab content editing to trusted administrators until remediation is confirmed.
- Review WordPress accounts with content-editing rights for unnecessary access.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether wp-expand-tabs-free is installed on each WordPress site.
- Record the installed plugin version and compare it to the affected range through 2.2.0.
- Identify roles allowed to create or edit WP Tabs content.
- Review tab content for unexpected script-like markup or untrusted changes.
- Verify remediation by confirming the plugin is updated, removed, disabled, or otherwise vendor-mitigated.
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-2023-52124 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.