CVE-2022-1047 in Themify Post Type Builder Search Addon Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/09/2022
The Themify Post Type Builder Search Addon WordPress plugin before 1.4.0 does not properly escape the current page URL before reusing it in a HTML attribute, leading to a reflected cross site scripting vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1047 affects the Themify Post Type Builder Search Addon WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 1.4.0. This security flaw represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from improper input sanitization within the plugin's codebase. The issue manifests when the plugin fails to adequately escape the current page URL before incorporating it into HTML attributes, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by unsuspecting users. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's handling of user-supplied data within the context of URL parameters that are subsequently rendered in HTML output without proper sanitization measures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the plugin's search functionality where it processes the current page URL and incorporates it into HTML attributes without appropriate escaping mechanisms. When a user navigates to a page with specific URL parameters that are then processed by the vulnerable plugin, the system fails to sanitize these parameters before rendering them in HTML contexts such as href attributes or other HTML element properties. This creates an environment where maliciously crafted URLs can contain JavaScript code that gets executed when the page loads, as the browser interprets the unescaped content as executable script rather than static text. The reflected nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payload is delivered via a URL that, when visited, causes the victim's browser to reflect the injected script back to the user, making it particularly dangerous for exploitation through social engineering campaigns.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1047 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to user sessions, credential theft, and the ability to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability can be exploited to create malicious links that, when clicked by victims, execute unauthorized code within their browser context. This could lead to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or the redirection of users to malicious websites. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can craft specific URLs that, when delivered to victims through phishing emails or social media platforms, can compromise user systems without requiring persistent access to the target website. Additionally, the vulnerability can be leveraged in combination with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated exploitation scenarios, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Security mitigations for CVE-2022-1047 should focus on implementing proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin codebase. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to version 1.4.0 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the improper URL escaping issue. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation for all URL parameters processed by the plugin, ensuring that any user-supplied data is properly escaped before being rendered in HTML contexts. The implementation of Content Security Policy headers can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, preventing the execution of unauthorized scripts even if the vulnerability is exploited. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for spearphishing via email, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create malicious payloads that are delivered through email-based social engineering campaigns. Regular security audits and automated scanning of WordPress installations for vulnerable plugins should be implemented to prevent similar issues from being exploited in the future, with particular attention to the security practices around HTML output escaping and input validation in web applications.