CVE-2022-0590 in BulletProof Security Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2022
The BulletProof Security WordPress plugin before 5.8 does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, which could allow high privilege users to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0590 affects the BulletProof Security WordPress plugin version 5.8 and earlier, representing a critical cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security posture of WordPress installations. This issue stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's administrative settings interface. The vulnerability specifically targets high-privilege users who possess the ability to modify plugin configurations, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited to execute malicious scripts in the context of authenticated users' browsers.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input within its settings management components. According to CWE-79 Cross-Site Scripting, this vulnerability allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates even when the WordPress environment has properly restricted the unfiltered_html capability, which typically prevents non-administrative users from injecting raw HTML content. This means that the protection mechanisms designed to prevent XSS attacks are bypassed through the plugin's insecure handling of user inputs.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-0590 extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers with administrative privileges to potentially escalate their access and compromise entire WordPress installations. High-privilege users who can manipulate the plugin settings become vectors for executing malicious payloads that could steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform unauthorized administrative actions. The attack surface is further expanded when considering that WordPress administrators often have elevated privileges within their web applications, making successful exploitation particularly damaging to organizational security postures.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.002 Account Manipulation, as it provides a pathway for attackers to maintain persistence and elevate privileges within WordPress environments. The vulnerability also maps to ATT&CK technique T1213 Data from Information Repositories, as compromised administrators could potentially access sensitive configuration data and user information stored within the WordPress system. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security assessment, particularly in environments where multiple administrators have access to plugin management interfaces.
The recommended mitigation strategy centers on immediate plugin updates to version 5.8 or later, where the sanitization and escaping issues have been addressed. Additionally, security teams should implement network-level monitoring to detect unusual administrative activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of WordPress plugin configurations should be conducted to ensure that all third-party components maintain current security standards. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers as an additional defense-in-depth measure to further limit the impact of potential XSS attacks, even if other security controls fail.