CVE-2022-1994 in Login With OTP Over SMS, Email, WhatsApp and Google Authenticator Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 06/27/2022
The Login With OTP Over SMS, Email, WhatsApp and Google Authenticator WordPress plugin before 1.0.8 does not escape its settings, allowing high privilege users such as admin to perform Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html is disallowed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-1994 affects the Login With OTP Over SMS Email WhatsApp and Google Authenticator WordPress plugin version 1.0.7 and earlier. This security flaw resides within the plugin's handling of administrative settings, specifically failing to properly escape output when rendering configuration options. The issue represents a classic cross-site scripting vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers with administrative privileges or those who can manipulate the plugin's settings. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs in a plugin that handles authentication mechanisms, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate privileges or compromise user accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper output escaping within the plugin's administrative interface. When administrators configure the plugin settings, the data entered into various fields is not properly sanitized or escaped before being rendered back to the browser. This failure to escape output creates a pathway for malicious scripts to be injected and executed within the context of the administrator's browser session. The vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that even when WordPress is configured to disallow unfiltered_html, the plugin's settings page fails to implement proper escaping mechanisms, allowing attackers to bypass these security restrictions. This behavior aligns with CWE-79 which defines cross-site scripting as the improper handling of untrusted data within web applications, and specifically addresses the scenario where output is not properly escaped.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress administrators who rely on the affected plugin for authentication management. An attacker with access to administrative settings could inject malicious scripts that could steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform unauthorized actions within the WordPress administration panel. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where WordPress security is paramount, such as e-commerce sites, content management systems, or any platform where user authentication is critical. The attack vector is relatively straightforward since it requires only administrative access to the plugin settings, which may be available to users with roles such as editors or contributors in misconfigured environments. This vulnerability undermines the security posture of affected WordPress installations and could lead to complete compromise of the administrative interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-1994 should begin with immediate patching to version 1.0.8 or later, which addresses the output escaping issue. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as role-based access control limiting who can modify plugin settings, regular monitoring of plugin configuration changes, and implementation of web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by ensuring that only essential personnel have administrative access to plugin configuration options. Security hardening practices including input validation, output escaping, and regular security audits of WordPress plugins should be implemented as part of comprehensive security operations. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input and output handling in web applications and serves as a reminder that authentication-related plugins require particularly rigorous security scrutiny. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter as it enables attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of privileged users, potentially leading to further exploitation techniques such as credential theft or lateral movement within the compromised environment.