CVE-2022-1336 in Carousel CK Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2022
The Carousel CK WordPress plugin through 1.1.0 does not sanitize and escape Slide's descriptions, which could allow high-privileged users such as admin to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks when unfiltered_html is disallowed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
The Carousel CK WordPress plugin version 1.1.0 contains a critical cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from insufficient input sanitization and output escaping of slide descriptions. This vulnerability specifically affects high-privileged users including administrators who possess the capability to manipulate carousel slide content. The flaw occurs when the plugin processes user-supplied slide descriptions without proper sanitization mechanisms, allowing malicious scripts to be injected into the plugin's administrative interface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets users who have elevated privileges and can bypass standard security restrictions that typically protect against such attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly handle user input within the slide description fields. When administrators create or edit carousel slides, the plugin accepts raw HTML content without applying appropriate sanitization filters. This creates an environment where malicious actors can inject script tags or other malicious code into the slide descriptions. The vulnerability becomes exploitable when the unfiltered_html capability is disabled in WordPress, as this normally prevents administrators from injecting dangerous code. However, the Carousel CK plugin's insufficient sanitization means that even with these restrictions in place, malicious code can still be executed through the slide description fields.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS attacks as it provides a vector for more sophisticated exploitation techniques. An attacker with administrator privileges could potentially use this vulnerability to escalate their access within the WordPress environment, steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the administrator, or even deploy additional malware. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the administrative interface where users have elevated privileges, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that administrators often have access to sensitive system configurations and user data.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's code. The recommended approach involves applying WordPress's built-in sanitization functions such as wp_kses() or esc_html() to all user-supplied content before rendering it in the administrative interface. Additionally, the plugin should enforce strict content validation for slide descriptions to prevent the injection of potentially harmful script tags or other malicious code. Organizations should also ensure that the Carousel CK plugin is updated to a patched version that addresses this specific vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough code review to identify other potential input handling issues within the plugin and implementation of comprehensive security testing procedures to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The attack pattern follows typical XSS exploitation methods where malicious input is stored and then executed in the victim's browser context. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript and T1548.001 for Abuse of Functionality, as it represents an abuse of the plugin's legitimate functionality to execute malicious code. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of T1213.002 for Data from Information Repositories, as it allows for unauthorized access to administrative interfaces where sensitive data and system controls are managed. Organizations should implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain up-to-date security patches across all WordPress plugins to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in their environments.