CVE-2022-1027 in Page Restriction Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/25/2022
The Page Restriction WordPress (WP) WordPress plugin before 1.2.7 allows bad actors with administrator privileges to the settings page to inject Javascript code to its settings leading to stored Cross-Site Scripting that will only affect administrator users.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1027 affects the Page Restriction WordPress plugin version 1.2.6 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables privilege escalation and persistent cross-site scripting attacks. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's settings management interface, specifically targeting administrators who possess the ability to modify plugin configurations. The vulnerability exists due to improper handling of user-supplied data within the plugin's administrative settings page, creating an environment where malicious actors can inject malicious javascript code that gets stored and subsequently executed in the browser of any administrator who accesses the affected settings page.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the plugin's configuration parameters, where the attacker with administrator privileges can inject javascript payloads into the settings fields. These payloads are then stored within the plugin's configuration database entries and executed whenever administrators access the settings page, creating a stored cross-site scripting scenario. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it specifically targets administrator users, making it an ideal vector for privilege escalation attacks and session hijacking. The flaw stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and validate user inputs before storing them, which directly correlates to CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation into a Web Browser, a fundamental weakness in web application security that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform actions that would normally be restricted to legitimate administrators. This includes potentially accessing sensitive system information, modifying plugin configurations, and even escalating privileges further within the WordPress environment. The stored nature of the XSS vulnerability means that the malicious code persists across multiple sessions and user interactions, making it particularly dangerous for long-term compromise of the affected WordPress installation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, steal administrator session cookies, or redirect users to malicious websites, all while maintaining the appearance of legitimate administrative activity within the system. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by the fact that it requires minimal privileges to exploit, as the attacker only needs administrator-level access to the WordPress site, which is often obtained through other means such as credential compromise or social engineering.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate upgrade to version 1.2.7 or later of the Page Restriction plugin, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation and sanitization issues. Additionally, administrators should implement proper input validation measures at the WordPress level, including the use of Content Security Policy headers to prevent unauthorized script execution. The implementation of web application firewalls and security monitoring tools can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts by monitoring for suspicious input patterns in plugin settings pages. Security hardening practices such as limiting administrative privileges to only necessary users, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrator accounts, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins should be enforced to reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing least privilege principles for plugin access and regularly review plugin permissions to ensure that only authorized personnel can modify critical configuration settings. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output sanitization in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript and T1566.002 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts in the context of administrator sessions and potentially gain further access to the system through the compromised administrative privileges.