CVE-2022-1842 in OpenBook Book Data Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/27/2022
The OpenBook Book Data WordPress plugin through 3.5.2 does not have CSRF check in place when updating its settings, which could allow attackers to make a logged in admin change them via a CSRF attack and lead to Stored Cross-Site Scripting due to the lack of sanitisation and escaping as well
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1842 affects the OpenBook Book Data WordPress plugin version 3.5.2 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress administrative functions. This issue stems from the absence of Cross-Site Request Forgery protection mechanisms within the plugin's settings update functionality, creating an exploitable vector for malicious actors to manipulate administrative configurations without proper authorization. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's administrative interface where users can modify book data settings, making it particularly dangerous for websites that rely on this plugin for content management.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the plugin's failure to validate the origin of administrative requests through proper CSRF token verification. When administrators access the plugin's settings page and submit changes, the system does not enforce any anti-CSRF measures to confirm that the request originates from a legitimate administrative session. This omission creates a pathway for attackers to craft malicious web pages or exploit existing vulnerabilities to trick logged-in administrators into executing unintended actions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage in exploitation scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as the lack of input sanitization and output escaping creates a subsequent Stored Cross-Site Scripting vulnerability. When attackers successfully manipulate plugin settings through CSRF attacks, they can inject malicious JavaScript code that gets stored within the plugin's configuration parameters. This stored XSS vulnerability allows the malicious code to execute whenever the settings are rendered or processed, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further compromise of the WordPress installation. The combination of CSRF and XSS vulnerabilities creates a particularly dangerous attack surface where initial unauthorized configuration changes can escalate into full administrative compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1842 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 3.5.3 or later, which contains the necessary CSRF protection mechanisms and input sanitization fixes. Administrators should also implement additional security layers including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unauthorized administrative changes, and implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of malicious scripts. The WordPress security team recommends that all users with vulnerable versions immediately upgrade their installations and review their plugin configurations for any signs of malicious modifications. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as Web Application Firewalls to detect and block suspicious CSRF attack patterns, while maintaining comprehensive logging of administrative activities to enable rapid incident response when such vulnerabilities are exploited.