CVE-2022-1112 in Autolinks Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/18/2022
The Autolinks WordPress plugin through 1.0.1 does not have CSRF check in place when updating its settings, and does not sanitise as well as escape them, which could allow attackers to perform Stored Cross-Site scripting against a logged in admin via a CSRF attack
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2022
The CVE-2022-1112 vulnerability affects the Autolinks WordPress plugin version 1.0.1 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that combines multiple dangerous conditions to enable sophisticated attacks against WordPress administrators. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's administrative settings update mechanism, where proper cross-site request forgery protection has been omitted, creating an exploitable pathway for malicious actors to manipulate plugin configurations without administrator consent. The flaw specifically manifests in the absence of anti-CSRF tokens during the settings update process, combined with inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms that allow malicious code to persist within the plugin's configuration parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic stored cross-site scripting attack pattern where an attacker crafts a malicious request designed to modify plugin settings through a CSRF vector. Since the plugin lacks proper CSRF protection, an authenticated administrator who visits a malicious website or clicks on a compromised link could unknowingly trigger the settings update with malicious payloads. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by the fact that the plugin does not sanitize or escape user-supplied input before storing it, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that will execute whenever the affected admin panel is accessed. This stored XSS condition means that the malicious code persists in the system and can affect any administrator who views the plugin settings page, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited repeatedly.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to WordPress site security and integrity, particularly in environments where multiple administrators have access to plugin configurations. The attack requires only that a logged-in administrator be tricked into visiting a malicious page or clicking a compromised link, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites that host malicious content. The impact extends beyond simple script execution, as attackers could potentially escalate privileges, steal session cookies, or manipulate plugin functionality to create backdoors within the WordPress installation. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery, while the stored XSS aspect aligns with CWE-79, representing Cross-Site Scripting. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically through web shells or script injection techniques, and potentially T1566 for Phishing in the context of the initial compromise vector.
Organizations affected by CVE-2022-1112 should immediately implement several mitigation strategies to protect their WordPress installations. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to the latest version of the Autolinks plugin where the CSRF protection and input sanitization issues have been resolved. Administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as restricting plugin access through .htaccess rules, implementing Content Security Policy headers to prevent script execution, and monitoring for unauthorized plugin modifications. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities, particularly focusing on plugins that handle administrative settings without proper CSRF protection. Regular security scanning and penetration testing should be implemented to identify potential exploitation vectors, while administrator education regarding phishing awareness and safe browsing practices remains crucial for preventing initial compromise. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation, CSRF protection implementation, and output escaping in web applications, particularly within content management systems where administrative access provides elevated privileges.