CVE-2022-1945 in Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/20/2022
The Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode by Colorlib WordPress plugin before 1.0.99 does not sanitize and escape some settings, allowing high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting when unfiltered_html is disallowed (for example in multisite setup)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1945 affects the Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode by Colorlib WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 1.0.99. This issue represents a critical security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks through improper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's settings handling functionality. The vulnerability specifically targets high-privilege users such as administrators who possess the ability to modify plugin configurations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is limited or restricted.
The technical flaw stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape user-controllable input parameters within its settings interface. When administrators configure the plugin's maintenance mode or coming soon page settings, the input values are not adequately validated or escaped before being stored in the WordPress database and subsequently rendered in the frontend or admin interface. This omission creates a persistent XSS vector where malicious scripts can be injected and stored, executing whenever the affected pages are accessed by other users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it specifically targets scenarios where the unfiltered_html capability is restricted, such as in multisite WordPress installations where administrators may not have elevated privileges to bypass such restrictions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers with administrator privileges to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. In a multisite setup where unfiltered_html is typically disabled for security reasons, the vulnerability becomes even more dangerous as it exploits the very security controls that are meant to protect against such attacks. The stored nature of the XSS means that the malicious payload persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly difficult to detect and remediate. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output escaping mechanisms.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is significant within WordPress ecosystems, particularly in environments where multiple administrators or users with administrative privileges exist. The exploitation requires an attacker to already possess administrative privileges, but the impact is severe as it can be used to bypass other security controls and maintain persistent access to the compromised WordPress installation. Organizations using the affected plugin version are at risk of having their maintenance pages and coming soon pages compromised, potentially affecting the entire website availability and user trust. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor security practices in plugin development, specifically the failure to implement proper input sanitization and output escaping routines that are fundamental requirements in secure coding practices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate upgrading of the Coming Soon & Maintenance Mode plugin to version 1.0.99 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper input sanitization and output escaping. Additionally, organizations should implement regular security audits of their WordPress plugins, ensuring that all third-party components are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual administrative activities and potential XSS payloads within plugin settings. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following security frameworks such as the OWASP Top 10 and implementing proper security controls in accordance with the ATT&CK framework, specifically addressing the privilege escalation and persistence techniques that could be enabled through such XSS vulnerabilities. Regular security training for administrators on identifying and preventing XSS attacks remains crucial in maintaining overall security posture.