CVE-2022-1303 in Slide Anything Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/09/2022
The Slide Anything WordPress plugin before 2.3.44 does not sanitize and escape sliders' description, which could allow high privilege users such as editor and above to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html is disallowed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1303 affects the Slide Anything WordPress plugin version 2.3.44 and earlier, presenting a critical cross-site scripting weakness that undermines web application security. This flaw resides in the plugin's handling of slider descriptions where insufficient sanitization and escaping mechanisms fail to properly process user input, creating an avenue for malicious code injection. The vulnerability specifically targets high-privilege WordPress users including editors and administrators, who possess the capability to manipulate slider content through the plugin's interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the Slide Anything plugin's backend processing. When users with editor privileges or higher create or modify slider descriptions, the plugin fails to properly sanitize the input data before storing or rendering it within the web application. This oversight allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute within the context of other users' browsers, particularly when the WordPress installation has the unfiltered_html capability disabled for lower-privilege users. The vulnerability operates under CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-1303 extends beyond simple script injection, as it enables attackers to leverage the privileges of compromised users to perform unauthorized actions within the WordPress environment. High-privilege users who can manipulate slider content are particularly vulnerable since their access levels allow them to inject malicious code that persists in the database and executes whenever affected pages are rendered. This creates a persistent threat vector where attackers can establish backdoors, steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform other malicious activities that compromise the entire WordPress installation. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering through malicious content injection, as the attack can be executed through legitimate administrative interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1303 primarily involve updating the Slide Anything plugin to version 2.3.44 or later, which contains the necessary sanitization patches. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular plugin updates, monitoring user activities for suspicious modifications, and employing content security policies to limit script execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input sanitization practices and reinforces the principle that all user-provided content must be properly escaped before being rendered in web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security audits to detect similar vulnerabilities in other plugins and themes that may not properly sanitize user input.