CVE-2022-2369 in YaySMTP Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 08/01/2022
The YaySMTP WordPress plugin before 2.2.1 does not have capability check in an AJAX action, allowing any logged in users, such as subscriber to view the Logs of the plugin
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/29/2022
The YaySMTP WordPress plugin vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2369 represents a critical access control flaw that undermines the security posture of WordPress installations. This vulnerability exists in versions prior to 2.2.1 and specifically affects the plugin's AJAX handling mechanism. The flaw stems from the absence of proper capability checks within the AJAX action implementation, which allows any authenticated user account to access sensitive plugin logs regardless of their role or permissions within the WordPress system. This represents a significant deviation from the principle of least privilege that should govern all WordPress plugin operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the scope of CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems. The flaw manifests when logged-in users, including low-privilege accounts such as subscribers, can exploit the missing capability validation to retrieve plugin logs through the AJAX interface. These logs typically contain sensitive information including email configuration details, authentication credentials, and potentially other system information that could be leveraged by attackers to further compromise the WordPress environment. The vulnerability essentially creates an unauthorized information disclosure channel that bypasses normal WordPress user permission hierarchies.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers who have gained access to any user account to escalate their privileges and gather intelligence about the email infrastructure. The logs may contain details about email server configurations, API keys, and other sensitive data that could be used for further attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213.002, which involves data from information repositories, specifically targeting the exposure of sensitive configuration data through improperly protected interfaces. The ability for subscribers to access logs undermines the fundamental security model of WordPress systems where different user roles should have distinct access levels and capabilities.
The remediation for this vulnerability requires immediate patching to version 2.2.1 or later where proper capability checks have been implemented. WordPress administrators should conduct thorough security audits of their plugin installations to identify any other plugins that may exhibit similar access control flaws. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unauthorized access attempts to plugin administrative interfaces, particularly those that expose sensitive data through AJAX endpoints. Additionally, implementing network-level controls and monitoring for unusual patterns of log access can help detect exploitation attempts before they result in significant damage. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls at the network level to prevent low-privilege accounts from accessing administrative interfaces entirely, thereby providing defense in depth against similar vulnerabilities.