CVE-2022-1104 in Popup Maker Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/09/2022
The Popup Maker WordPress plugin before 1.16.5 does not sanitise and escape some of its Popup settings, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2025
The Popup Maker WordPress plugin vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1104 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that affects versions prior to 1.16.5. This vulnerability resides in the plugin's handling of popup settings where insufficient sanitization and escaping mechanisms fail to properly validate user input. The flaw specifically targets high-privilege users including administrators who possess the capability to create and modify popup configurations within the WordPress admin interface. Security researchers have identified that while WordPress typically restricts unfiltered_html capability to prevent malicious script injection, this particular vulnerability allows authenticated administrators to bypass such protections through the plugin's settings management. The vulnerability operates by storing malicious JavaScript code within the popup configuration parameters, which then executes whenever the popup is rendered on the frontend or viewed in the admin interface. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can inject malicious payloads that execute in the context of other users' browsers, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised WordPress installation. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize user input, specifically manifesting as a stored XSS attack that leverages the plugin's administrative interface to persist malicious code.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to have administrative privileges or equivalent access within the WordPress environment, as the flaw specifically targets the plugin's settings management functionality. Attackers can leverage the popup settings configuration to inject malicious scripts that execute when the popup is displayed, potentially including iframe-based attacks, cookie stealing mechanisms, or redirection payloads. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical oversight in the plugin's input validation processes where user-supplied data is not properly escaped before being stored in the database and subsequently rendered in the browser. This allows attackers to craft malicious popup configurations that contain script tags or other malicious payloads which persist across sessions and can affect multiple users who encounter the compromised popup content. The attack vector operates through the standard WordPress admin interface where popup settings are configured, with the malicious code being stored in the plugin's database entries and executed during popup rendering. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple script execution as it can be used to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation within the WordPress environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1104 poses significant risks to WordPress installations using the affected Popup Maker plugin versions. Organizations may experience unauthorized access to sensitive administrative functions, potential data breaches through session hijacking, and compromise of user credentials through cookie theft mechanisms. The vulnerability's persistence through stored payloads means that even after the initial attack, malicious code remains active until the affected plugin is updated and the malicious entries are removed from the database. This creates a long-term threat vector that can be exploited by attackers to maintain access to compromised systems over extended periods. Security practitioners should note that the vulnerability operates within the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for command and control through scripting, specifically leveraging stored XSS to establish persistent access. The vulnerability's presence in the admin interface also aligns with ATT&CK's T1078.004 technique for valid accounts and T1566.002 for credential access through social engineering. Organizations using affected plugin versions face potential regulatory compliance issues and may be vulnerable to attacks that could result in financial loss, reputation damage, and operational disruption.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of the patched version 1.16.5 or later, which includes proper sanitization and escaping mechanisms for popup settings. Administrators should conduct thorough audits of existing popup configurations to identify and remove any potentially malicious entries that may have been injected through this vulnerability. Security hardening measures should include implementing strict input validation and output escaping throughout the WordPress admin interface, particularly for plugins that handle user-generated content or configuration data. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be enforced across all WordPress plugins and themes to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring mechanisms to detect unusual activities in the admin interface and database entries that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input sanitization practices and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in plugin development can create significant security risks. Organizations should review their plugin selection processes to ensure compatibility with security best practices and consider implementing automated security scanning tools to identify vulnerable components within their WordPress installations. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining current security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include both perimeter security and internal application-level protections.