CVE-2022-1549 in WP Athletics Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2022
The WP Athletics WordPress plugin through 1.1.7 does not sanitize parameters before storing them in the database, nor does it escape the values when outputting them back in the admin dashboard, leading to a Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2022
The WP Athletics WordPress plugin version 1.1.7 and earlier contains a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that arises from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's data handling processes where user-supplied parameters are stored in the database without proper sanitization and subsequently displayed in the admin dashboard without adequate escaping. The flaw creates a persistent security risk that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's administrative interface, potentially compromising the entire WordPress installation. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper data sanitization protocols during the storage phase and output rendering phase, creating an environment where malicious code can persist and execute whenever administrators view affected pages.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's handling of user input through parameters that are directly stored in the database without proper sanitization procedures. When administrators access the plugin's admin dashboard, the stored parameters are retrieved and displayed without appropriate HTML escaping, allowing malicious scripts to execute in the context of the administrator's browser session. This creates a classic stored XSS scenario where the malicious payload is permanently stored in the database and executed each time the affected data is rendered in the admin interface. The vulnerability affects the plugin's configuration and data management functions, particularly impacting the administrative areas where users interact with the plugin's settings and data displays. According to CWE-79, this represents a classic stored cross-site scripting flaw where the application fails to properly escape output, and the vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges, steal administrator sessions, access sensitive data, and potentially compromise the entire WordPress installation. Attackers could inject malicious scripts that redirect administrators to phishing sites, steal cookies and session data, or even install backdoors for persistent access. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload remains active indefinitely until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with sustained access to the compromised system. Administrators who regularly access the plugin's admin dashboard become targets for this attack vector, as the malicious scripts execute automatically whenever they view the affected pages. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress environments where the plugin is widely used and administrators have elevated privileges, making the potential impact substantial for organizations relying on this plugin for athletic data management.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization and escaping issues, as well as implementing additional security measures such as input validation at multiple layers, output escaping for all dynamic content, and regular database security audits. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injections, and establish monitoring procedures to identify unauthorized changes to plugin data. The recommended remediation involves ensuring that all user-supplied parameters are properly sanitized before database storage and that all output is escaped according to the context in which it is displayed. Additionally, administrators should conduct regular security assessments of their WordPress installations, review plugin permissions, and implement principle of least privilege access controls. Security teams should also monitor for exploitation attempts through log analysis and implement proper incident response procedures to address potential compromises. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly in administrative interfaces where privileged access exists.