CVE-2022-2597 in Visual Portfolio, Photo Gallery & Post Grid Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/05/2022
The Visual Portfolio, Photo Gallery & Post Grid WordPress plugin before 2.19.0 does not have proper authorisation checks in some of its REST endpoints, allowing users with a role as low as contributor to call them and inject arbitrary CSS in arbitrary saved layouts
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2597 affects the Visual Portfolio Photo Gallery & Post Grid WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 2.19.0. This issue represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of WordPress plugins by allowing unauthorized users to access restricted functionality through the REST API. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's REST endpoints which should typically require administrative privileges but instead permit users with contributor-level roles to execute malicious requests. This represents a significant bypass of WordPress's role-based access control mechanisms that are fundamental to the platform's security architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and authorization checks within the plugin's REST API endpoints. Contributors in WordPress typically have limited capabilities including the ability to publish posts and manage their own content, but should not have access to plugin administration functions. However, the Visual Portfolio plugin fails to properly verify user permissions before executing requests, allowing malicious contributors to exploit this gap in the authorization framework. The flaw enables attackers to inject arbitrary CSS code into saved layouts, which can be executed in the context of other users' browsers when they view these layouts, creating a cross-site scripting vector that could be leveraged for further exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it creates a persistent vector for malicious activity within WordPress installations. When contributors can inject CSS into saved layouts, they essentially gain the ability to modify the presentation layer of the website in ways that could compromise user experience, data integrity, or even facilitate more sophisticated attacks. The injected CSS could potentially be used to manipulate visual elements, redirect users to malicious sites, or create misleading content that appears legitimate to end users. This vulnerability also demonstrates how plugin developers can inadvertently create security holes that bypass WordPress's core security models, making it particularly dangerous for sites that rely on contributor-level users for content management.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-863, which describes "Incorrect Authorization" in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." The attack surface is particularly concerning because it allows for persistent modifications to website layouts that can affect all users who view the affected content. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to plugin version 2.19.0 or later, which addresses the authorization gaps in the REST endpoints, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins to identify similar authorization flaws. Additionally, administrators should review user roles and permissions to ensure that contributor-level accounts do not have unnecessary access to plugin administration interfaces, and implement monitoring systems to detect unusual activity in REST API endpoints that might indicate exploitation attempts.