CVE-2022-2444 in Visualizer Tables and Charts Manager Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 07/18/2022
The Visualizer: Tables and Charts Manager for WordPress plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to deserialization of untrusted input via the 'remote_data' parameter in versions up to, and including 3.7.9. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with contributor privileges and above to call files using a PHAR wrapper that will deserialize the data and call arbitrary PHP Objects that can be used to perform a variety of malicious actions granted a POP chain is also present. It also requires that the attacker is successful in uploading a file with the serialized payload.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2444 affects the Visualizer: Tables and Charts Manager plugin for WordPress, a widely used tool for creating and managing data visualizations within WordPress environments. This particular flaw resides in the plugin's handling of user-provided data through the 'remote_data' parameter, which represents a critical security oversight in the plugin's input validation and sanitization mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions up to and including 3.7.9, making it a persistent threat to numerous WordPress installations that have not been updated to address this weakness. The issue manifests as a deserialization vulnerability that allows authenticated attackers to exploit the plugin's functionality to execute arbitrary code on the affected system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages PHP's object serialization and deserialization features, specifically targeting the PHAR (PHP Archive) protocol which can be manipulated to trigger remote code execution. When an authenticated user with contributor privileges or higher submits a specially crafted payload through the 'remote_data' parameter, the plugin's deserialization process can be tricked into executing malicious PHP objects. This represents a classic PHP deserialization vulnerability that aligns with CWE-502, which specifically addresses "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" and is commonly exploited in web application attacks. The vulnerability requires a successful file upload operation to establish the serialized payload within the system, making it a multi-step attack vector that combines both privilege escalation and file manipulation components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress administrators and security teams, as it provides attackers with a pathway to execute arbitrary code on affected systems with the privileges of the authenticated user. The requirement for contributor-level access or higher means that this vulnerability can be exploited by users who have been granted relatively limited permissions within a WordPress installation, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or lateral movement within the system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform various malicious actions including but not limited to data exfiltration, system compromise, and the establishment of persistent backdoors. The presence of a POP (Property Object Pollution) chain further amplifies the severity by enabling attackers to chain multiple malicious operations together, creating more sophisticated attack vectors that can bypass traditional security controls and detection mechanisms.
The exploitation of CVE-2022-2444 aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and command execution. The vulnerability enables attackers to move from a limited user account to full system compromise, representing a key step in the attack lifecycle. Security professionals should consider implementing multiple layers of defense including regular plugin updates, privileged access management, and monitoring for unusual file upload activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and output encoding in web applications, as well as the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party plugins. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and conduct thorough security audits to identify any potential exploitation attempts that may have occurred before the vulnerability was patched, as the nature of the attack requires persistent access to maintain control over compromised systems.