CVE-2022-0640 in Pricing Table Builder Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 03/21/2022
The Pricing Table Builder WordPress plugin before 1.1.5 does not sanitize and escape the postid 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-2022-0640 affects the Pricing Table Builder WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 1.1.5, and represents a critical reflected cross-site scripting flaw that exposes administrators to potential security risks. This issue arises from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied input parameters within its administrative interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of an authenticated administrator's browser session. The vulnerability manifests when the postid parameter is processed without adequate input validation or output escaping mechanisms, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that will execute whenever the affected admin page is loaded.
The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization or escaping. The vulnerability operates within the context of WordPress admin interfaces, where the plugin fails to implement proper security controls for handling user input that is subsequently rendered back to the browser. When an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing a crafted postid parameter and convinces an administrator to visit this page, the reflected script executes in the administrator's browser, potentially enabling session hijacking, privilege escalation, or data exfiltration attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1566.001, which describes social engineering attacks through malicious links, where the reflected XSS serves as a delivery mechanism for more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to manipulate the administrative interface and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information or functionality. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could modify pricing tables, inject malicious content into the site, or even establish persistent access through more advanced attack vectors that leverage the compromised administrative session. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges beyond the ability to craft malicious URLs, and the attack vector is easily concealed within seemingly legitimate administrative pages. The reflected nature of the XSS means that the malicious payload is not stored on the server but is instead reflected back to the user's browser, making it difficult to detect through traditional server-side scanning methods and requiring careful monitoring of user interactions and page requests.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-0640 primarily focus on updating the affected plugin to version 1.1.5 or later, where the sanitization and escaping mechanisms have been properly implemented to prevent the reflected XSS vulnerability. System administrators should also implement additional defensive measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unusual administrative activity, and implementing content security policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly within administrative interfaces where privileged access can be leveraged to cause significant damage. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious requests targeting known XSS patterns, and establish robust patch management procedures to ensure timely updates of all third-party components. Security monitoring should include tracking for suspicious administrative page requests and unusual parameter values that might indicate exploitation attempts.