CVE-2022-2449 in Only Free Image Optimizer & Compress Plugin Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/14/2022
The reSmush.it : the only free Image Optimizer & compress plugin WordPress plugin before 0.4.4 does not perform CSRF checks for any of its AJAX actions, allowing an attackers to trick logged in users to perform various actions on their behalf on the site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2026
The reSmush.it WordPress plugin version 0.4.3 and earlier contains a critical cross-site request forgery vulnerability that compromises the security of authenticated users. This vulnerability stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the plugin's AJAX handling functionality, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries can exploit to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of legitimate users. The flaw affects the plugin's image optimization and compression capabilities, which are commonly used by WordPress administrators and content creators who maintain active sessions on their sites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the application layer where the plugin fails to validate the origin of AJAX requests through proper CSRF token verification. When a user accesses the WordPress admin interface and remains authenticated, an attacker can craft malicious web pages or emails containing specially crafted requests that leverage the user's existing session to execute unintended operations within the plugin's administrative functions. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's AJAX endpoints that handle image optimization tasks, allowing attackers to manipulate the compression settings, modify image processing parameters, or potentially trigger resource-intensive operations that could impact site performance or availability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized modifications to encompass potential denial of service conditions and resource exhaustion attacks. An attacker could exploit the CSRF vulnerability to repeatedly trigger image compression operations, consuming server resources and potentially causing performance degradation or system instability. Additionally, the compromised authenticated sessions could enable more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation attempts or data manipulation within the plugin's functionality. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery flaws in web applications, and represents a significant weakening of the WordPress plugin's security posture.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability operates under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, as it allows attackers to leverage existing user privileges without requiring additional authentication mechanisms. The attack surface is particularly concerning in WordPress environments where administrators frequently perform administrative tasks through web browsers, making CSRF attacks highly effective when combined with social engineering tactics. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, as it relies on the inherent trust relationship between the user's browser and the WordPress administration interface.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 0.4.4 or later, which contain the necessary CSRF protection mechanisms. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including regular security audits of installed plugins, monitoring for unauthorized administrative activities, and consideration of network-level protections such as Content Security Policy headers. The WordPress security community should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of similar image optimization plugins to identify potential similar flaws in the broader ecosystem. Organizations maintaining WordPress installations should establish robust patch management procedures to ensure timely adoption of security updates and maintain awareness of plugin security advisories from trusted sources.