CVE-2022-2461 in Transposh Translation Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2022
The Transposh WordPress Translation plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to unauthorized setting changes by unauthenticated users in versions up to, and including, 1.0.9.6. This is due to insufficient permissions checking on the 'tp_translation' AJAX action and default settings which makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to influence the data shown on the site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2026
The Transposh WordPress Translation plugin vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress websites relying on this translation service. This weakness exists within versions up to and including 1.0.9.6, where the plugin fails to properly authenticate users before allowing modifications to core translation settings. The vulnerability specifically targets the 'tp_translation' AJAX action, which serves as a communication channel between the frontend and backend systems. Attackers can exploit this flaw without requiring any login credentials or administrative privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it bypasses standard access controls that protect sensitive configuration parameters. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and permission verification mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating an attack surface that allows malicious actors to manipulate translation-related settings and potentially alter content presentation on affected websites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a clear failure in the plugin's security architecture, where the AJAX endpoint lacks proper authentication checks and authorization verification. The 'tp_translation' action should require valid user credentials and administrative privileges before allowing any modifications to translation settings, yet this protection mechanism is absent or insufficiently implemented. This allows unauthenticated attackers to submit malicious payloads through the AJAX interface that can modify translation configurations, potentially redirecting users to malicious content or altering how translated content appears on the website. The default settings configuration further compounds the risk by providing attackers with predictable entry points and minimal barriers to successful exploitation. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and represents a classic case of insufficient privilege checking in web applications. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it operates through standard AJAX communication channels that are commonly allowed in web application firewalls and security configurations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it can lead to significant content manipulation and potential data compromise across affected WordPress installations. Unauthenticated attackers can alter translation settings to display misleading information, redirect users to phishing sites, or manipulate how multilingual content appears to visitors. This creates opportunities for social engineering attacks, content poisoning, and potential information disclosure through manipulated translation data. The vulnerability affects not only the translation functionality itself but can also impact the overall site integrity and user trust. Depending on the website's configuration, attackers might be able to change default language settings, modify translation priorities, or even inject malicious code through altered translation parameters. The widespread use of the Transposh plugin across numerous WordPress sites means that this vulnerability could potentially affect hundreds or thousands of websites simultaneously, creating a significant risk for website owners and their visitors.
Organizations and website administrators should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability by updating to the latest version of the Transposh plugin where the issue has been resolved. The recommended approach includes applying the official security patch released by the plugin developers, which implements proper authentication checks for the 'tp_translation' AJAX action and enforces appropriate access controls. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing additional security measures such as monitoring AJAX endpoints for suspicious activity, implementing web application firewalls with custom rules to block unauthorized access attempts, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins. From a defensive standpoint, this vulnerability highlights the importance of proper access control implementation and the need for comprehensive security testing of third-party plugins before deployment. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic where attackers leverage insecure permissions to gain unauthorized access to system functions. Security teams should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect such misconfigurations in plugin installations and provide real-time alerts when unauthorized modifications are attempted.