CVE-2022-1512 in ScrollReveal.js Effects Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/16/2022
The ScrollReveal.js Effects WordPress plugin through 1.2 does not sanitise and escape its settings, which could allow high privilege users to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when unfiltered_html is disallowed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1512 affects the ScrollReveal.js Effects WordPress plugin version 1.2 and earlier, presenting a critical cross-site scripting risk that undermines the security posture of affected WordPress installations. This flaw resides in the plugin's handling of user settings where insufficient sanitization and escaping mechanisms fail to properly validate input data before rendering it within the web application's context. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it targets high-privilege users, meaning administrators or users with elevated permissions can exploit this weakness to inject malicious scripts into the WordPress admin interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input values within its settings management system. When administrators configure the plugin's effects and animations, the input parameters are stored and subsequently rendered without adequate filtering or escaping processes. This creates an environment where malicious payloads can be injected into the plugin's configuration settings and executed when the admin interface loads. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's settings handling mechanism, which processes parameters related to animation effects and visual transitions that are commonly configured through WordPress's admin dashboard. The lack of proper sanitization means that even when WordPress's unfiltered_html capability is disabled for user roles, the vulnerability persists because the issue occurs within the plugin's own processing logic rather than relying on core WordPress filtering mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it provides attackers with a means to escalate privileges and potentially compromise entire WordPress installations. High-privilege users who are tricked into viewing the compromised plugin settings or who have already gained access through other vectors can be targeted by attackers who inject malicious JavaScript code. This code can perform actions such as stealing administrator sessions, modifying plugin configurations, accessing sensitive data, or even redirecting users to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators may be less cautious about viewing plugin settings or where social engineering attacks can successfully convince privileged users to interact with maliciously crafted configurations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to WordPress installations and potentially use it as a foothold for further attacks within the broader network infrastructure.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the ScrollReveal.js Effects plugin where the vulnerability has been patched, disabling the plugin if immediate updates are not feasible, and implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls to monitor for suspicious script injections. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1548.001 related to abuse of credentials for privilege escalation. Administrators should also enforce strict input validation policies and regularly audit plugin configurations to prevent unauthorized modifications that could lead to exploitation. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual patterns in plugin settings modifications and potential script injections in WordPress admin interfaces. Additionally, implementing proper access controls and privilege separation can help limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts, while regular security assessments should verify that no other plugins in the WordPress ecosystem suffer from similar sanitization issues.