CVE-2022-0189 in WP RSS Aggregator Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/28/2022
The WP RSS Aggregator WordPress plugin before 4.20 does not sanitise and escape the id parameter in the wprss_fetch_items_row_action AJAX action before outputting it back in the response, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/03/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0189 affects the WP RSS Aggregator WordPress plugin version 4.20 and earlier, presenting a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw that compromises user security. This issue resides within the wprss_fetch_items_row_action AJAX endpoint where the plugin fails to properly sanitise and escape the id parameter before incorporating it into the response output. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's administrative interface where users interact with RSS feed items through row actions, creating an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitisation practices within the plugin's AJAX handling mechanism. When administrators perform row actions on RSS feed items, the id parameter is passed through the wprss_fetch_items_row_action endpoint without proper sanitisation measures. This allows attackers to inject malicious script payloads that get executed when the response is rendered back to the administrator's browser. The flaw constitutes a classic reflected XSS vulnerability where the malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without proper encoding or sanitisation, making it particularly dangerous in administrative contexts where privileged users interact with the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the potential to escalate privileges and compromise the entire WordPress installation. Administrators who are logged into the site and perform row actions on RSS feed items become targets for this attack vector, potentially allowing threat actors to inject persistent malicious code, steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of the administrator. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that it requires minimal user interaction beyond normal administrative tasks, making it particularly stealthy and dangerous in environments where administrators frequently manage RSS feeds through the plugin's interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-0189 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 4.20 or later, which contain the necessary sanitisation fixes. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures including input validation at multiple layers, output encoding for all dynamic content, and regular security auditing of plugin components. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for social engineering via malicious content. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider implementing content security policies to further protect against reflected XSS attacks. Regular vulnerability assessments of WordPress plugins and themes remain essential for maintaining secure web application environments and preventing similar vulnerabilities from compromising system integrity.