CVE-2022-2071 in Name Directory Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/25/2022
The Name Directory WordPress plugin before 1.25.4 does not have CSRF check when importing names, and is also lacking sanitisation as well as escaping in some of the imported data, which could allow attackers to make a logged in admin import arbitrary names with XSS payloads in them.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2022
The CVE-2022-2071 vulnerability resides within the Name Directory WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.25.4. This security flaw represents a critical intersection of multiple vulnerability types that together create a significant risk for WordPress administrators. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper Cross-Site Request Forgery protection mechanisms during the name import functionality, combined with insufficient sanitization and output escaping of imported data. This combination creates a pathway for attackers to execute malicious code within the context of an authenticated administrator's session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of inadequate input validation and security controls. When administrators access the name import feature, the plugin fails to verify that requests originate from legitimate sources within the application, making it susceptible to CSRF attacks. The absence of CSRF tokens means that an attacker could craft malicious requests that would be executed by the administrator's browser without their knowledge or consent. Furthermore, the plugin's lack of proper sanitization and escaping of imported data creates an environment where malicious payloads can be stored and subsequently executed as part of the name directory functionality. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-352, which describes Cross-Site Request Forgery, and CWE-79, which addresses Cross-Site Scripting, with the combination creating a particularly dangerous attack vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-2071 extends beyond simple data corruption or theft, as it provides attackers with a potential path to full administrative control of affected WordPress installations. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could inject XSS payloads that would execute within the administrator's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or the execution of arbitrary commands on the server. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust relationship between the administrator and the plugin, making the attack more likely to succeed than if it required additional authentication steps. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers Scripting, as the XSS payloads could be used to execute malicious scripts, and T1566, which addresses Phishing, as the attack could be facilitated through social engineering to convince administrators to import malicious data.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the patched version 1.25.4 or higher of the Name Directory plugin, which addresses the CSRF protection gap and implements proper input sanitization. Additional defensive measures include restricting administrative privileges to only trusted users, implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit the execution of inline scripts, and monitoring for unusual import activities within the WordPress administration panel. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious import patterns, as well as conducting regular security audits of installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper security controls in web applications, particularly in features that allow data importation, where the lack of CSRF protection combined with insufficient input validation creates a dangerous combination that can be exploited to gain elevated privileges within the application environment.