CVE-2022-0232 in User Registration, Login & Landing Pages Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/18/2022
The User Registration, Login & Landing Pages WordPress plugin is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting due to insufficient escaping via the loader_text parameter found in the ~/includes/templates/landing-page.php file which allows attackers with administrative user access to inject arbitrary web scripts, in versions up to and including 1.2.7. This affects multi-site installations where unfiltered_html is disabled for administrators, and sites where unfiltered_html is disabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0232 affects the User Registration, Login & Landing Pages WordPress plugin, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting weakness that undermines web application security. This flaw exists within the plugin's handling of user input parameters, specifically targeting the loader_text parameter within the landing-page.php template file. The vulnerability's severity stems from its ability to persist malicious scripts within the application's database, making it particularly dangerous as the injected code executes whenever affected pages are loaded by other users. The vulnerability impacts versions up to and including 1.2.7, indicating a widespread exposure across numerous installations that have not received the necessary security updates. This stored XSS vulnerability poses significant risks to both individual users and organizations relying on WordPress for their web presence.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs through insufficient input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's template processing. When administrators configure landing page settings, the loader_text parameter receives user-provided input without adequate validation or sanitization. The parameter fails to properly escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code, creating an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious payloads. This weakness manifests as a direct result of improper input handling practices, where the plugin fails to apply appropriate security measures before storing user data in the database. The vulnerability's exploitation requires administrative access, which makes it particularly concerning as it allows privilege escalation and persistent malicious code execution within the targeted WordPress environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within compromised WordPress installations. Attackers can leverage this stored XSS vulnerability to execute malicious scripts that could steal user session cookies, redirect visitors to phishing sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's persistence means that once exploited, the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, potentially affecting all users who access the affected landing pages. In multi-site installations where unfiltered_html is disabled for administrators, the vulnerability still presents a significant threat as the stored XSS can execute within the context of the administrator's session, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The impact is further amplified in environments where administrators have elevated privileges and can modify critical system components.
Organizations affected by CVE-2022-0232 should implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect their WordPress installations from potential exploitation. The primary remediation involves updating the User Registration, Login & Landing Pages plugin to a version that addresses this vulnerability, which aligns with industry best practices for vulnerability management and patch deployment. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms within WordPress themes and plugins serves as a preventive measure against similar vulnerabilities. Security professionals should consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of protection against XSS attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) catalog, specifically CWE-79 which addresses Cross-site Scripting vulnerabilities. Organizations should also reference ATT&CK framework techniques related to command and control, credential access, and privilege escalation that may be facilitated through such stored XSS vulnerabilities, as these attacks can enable broader compromise of web applications and user data.