CVE-2022-2275 in WP Edit Menu Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2022
The WP Edit Menu WordPress plugin before 1.5.0 does not have CSRF in an AJAX action, which could allow attackers to make a logged in admin delete arbitrary posts/pages from the blog via a CSRF attack
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2275 affects the WP Edit Menu WordPress plugin version 1.5.0 and earlier, presenting a critical cross-site request forgery weakness that compromises administrative integrity. This flaw exists within the plugin's AJAX handling mechanism, specifically in the administrative functionality that manages menu items and their associated content. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection measures in the plugin's backend operations, creating an exploitable vector for authenticated attackers who have gained administrative access to a WordPress site.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the plugin's failure to validate the origin of AJAX requests through proper CSRF tokens or referer checks. When administrators perform actions such as deleting posts or pages through the WP Edit Menu interface, the plugin processes these requests without verifying that they originated from legitimate administrative interfaces. This omission allows malicious actors to craft specially crafted requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, result in unauthorized deletion of content. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the WordPress administrative dashboard's AJAX endpoints, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages existing administrative privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data loss, as it represents a significant escalation path for attackers who have already compromised administrative access. An attacker could exploit this weakness to systematically remove content, disrupt services, or create false narratives by deleting specific posts or pages that contradict their objectives. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through simple HTML forms or automated tools, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrators frequently interact with web interfaces. This weakness directly impacts the integrity and availability of WordPress content management systems, potentially leading to reputational damage, data loss, and business disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-2275 primarily involve immediate plugin updates to version 1.5.0 or later, which includes proper CSRF protection mechanisms. Administrators should also implement additional security measures such as regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unauthorized administrative actions, and implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious AJAX requests. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1499 for endpoint disruption, as it enables attackers to leverage legitimate administrative credentials to perform destructive actions. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and regular security training for administrators to reduce the risk of exploitation through social engineering or credential compromise.