CVE-2022-2669 in WP Taxonomy Import Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 09/16/2022
The WP Taxonomy Import WordPress plugin through 1.0.4 does not sanitise and escape a parameter before outputting it back in the page, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2025
The WP Taxonomy Import WordPress plugin version 1.0.4 and earlier contains a critical reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability that stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping practices. This vulnerability exists within the plugin's handling of user-supplied parameters that are subsequently reflected back to users without proper sanitization measures. The flaw specifically manifests when the plugin processes taxonomy import operations and fails to properly sanitize a parameter before incorporating it into the HTML output of the web page. This creates an avenue for attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes cross-site scripting flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization. The vulnerability operates through a reflected XSS vector where malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without adequate escaping or sanitization. Attackers can craft malicious URLs containing script payloads that, when executed by a victim's browser, can steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that WordPress plugins often operate with elevated privileges and may have access to sensitive administrative functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it represents a significant security risk for WordPress installations utilizing the affected plugin. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to hijack user sessions, particularly if the targeted users are administrators or have elevated privileges within the WordPress environment. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that exploitation requires social engineering to convince users to click malicious links, but once executed, the attack can persist across multiple sessions until the browser cache is cleared or the user logs out. This vulnerability affects the integrity and confidentiality of the WordPress site's administrative interface and potentially exposes sensitive data or functionality to unauthorized parties.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of the WP Taxonomy Import plugin to version 1.0.5 or later, which addresses the sanitization and escaping issues. Organizations should also implement input validation measures at the web application firewall level to detect and block malicious payloads targeting similar vulnerabilities. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify and remediate similar sanitization issues. Additionally, implementing content security policies can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and output escaping practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for gaining access through reflected cross-site scripting attacks.