CVE-2022-0628 in Mega Menu Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2022
The Mega Menu WordPress plugin before 3.0.8 does not sanitize and escape the _wpnonce parameter before outputting it back in an admin page, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-0628 affects the Mega Menu WordPress plugin version 3.0.7 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that exposes administrators to reflected cross-site scripting attacks. This issue stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's admin interface, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into the browser of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically targets the _wpnonce parameter which is used for nonce validation in WordPress admin contexts, but fails to properly sanitize this parameter before rendering it back to the user interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing crafted script payloads within the _wpnonce parameter and delivers it to an administrator who is logged into the WordPress admin panel. When the administrator clicks the malicious link, the reflected script executes in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration. This flaw directly maps to CWE-79 which defines Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities as the failure to properly escape output data, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the WordPress admin interface where privileged users operate, making it particularly dangerous for attackers seeking to gain elevated privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for WordPress sites utilizing the Mega Menu plugin, as it requires minimal user interaction for successful exploitation. The reflected nature of the XSS means that attackers do not need to store malicious payloads on the server, making detection more challenging. The vulnerability can be exploited to steal administrator session cookies, execute unauthorized administrative actions, or redirect users to malicious sites. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate WordPress nonce mechanisms that administrators trust, making the malicious code appear more credible to the user. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.002 which covers abuse of group policies and administrative privileges, as compromised admin sessions can lead to broader system compromise.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately update to version 3.0.8 or later of the Mega Menu plugin, which includes proper sanitization and escaping of the _wpnonce parameter. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for suspicious admin activity, and ensuring that all WordPress core installations and plugins remain current with security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly within privileged administrative interfaces where the potential impact of XSS attacks is magnified. Security teams should also consider implementing content security policies to provide additional defense-in-depth against reflected XSS attacks, though this should not be considered a replacement for proper code sanitization.