CVE-2022-2716 in Beaver Builder
Summary
by MITRE • 09/06/2022
The Beaver Builder – WordPress Page Builder for WordPress is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting via the 'Text Editor' block in versions up to, and including, 2.5.5.2 due to insufficient input sanitization and output escaping. This makes it possible for authenticated attackers with access to the Beaver Builder editor to inject arbitrary web scripts in pages that will execute whenever a user accesses an injected page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2716 affects the Beaver Builder WordPress page builder plugin, specifically targeting versions up to and including 2.5.5.2. This represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress sites relying on this popular page building tool. The vulnerability manifests within the 'Text Editor' block functionality, which serves as a core component for content creation and editing within the Beaver Builder interface. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms and insufficient output escaping practices that fail to properly validate and sanitize user-provided content before it is stored and subsequently rendered on web pages. This weakness creates a persistent security risk where malicious scripts can be injected and stored within the WordPress database, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple users over time.
The technical implementation of this stored cross-site scripting vulnerability occurs when authenticated attackers with sufficient privileges access the Beaver Builder editor interface. These attackers can insert malicious JavaScript code into the Text Editor block, which then gets stored in the WordPress database alongside legitimate content. When other users subsequently access pages containing this maliciously injected content, the stored scripts execute in their browsers without any additional interaction required. This behavior aligns with CWE-79, which defines cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses that occur when an application includes untrusted data in a new web page without proper validation or escaping. The vulnerability operates at the application layer, specifically targeting the content management system's rendering process where user input transitions into executable web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within WordPress environments. Once compromised, attackers can leverage the stored XSS to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, data exfiltration, and redirection to malicious sites. The authenticated nature of the attack means that only users with appropriate permissions within the WordPress system can exploit this vulnerability, but this still represents a significant risk particularly in environments where multiple administrators or contributors have access to the Beaver Builder interface. The vulnerability's persistence makes it especially concerning as the malicious scripts remain active until manually removed from the database, potentially affecting numerous users over extended periods. Organizations using this plugin face potential reputational damage, data breaches, and compliance violations that could result from unauthorized access to their WordPress installations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-2716 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the identified sanitization and escaping deficiencies. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation measures that filter and sanitize all user-provided content before storage, ensuring that malicious scripts cannot be persisted within the database. Output escaping mechanisms must be strengthened to properly encode rendered content, preventing the execution of injected scripts even if they somehow bypass input validation. Network monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect suspicious patterns in user activity that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around content creation and editing functions. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block known XSS attack patterns targeting the Beaver Builder plugin. Additionally, privileged user access controls should be reviewed and restricted to minimize the attack surface, ensuring that only necessary personnel have access to the Beaver Builder editor interface. The remediation process should include thorough database scanning to identify any previously injected malicious content and comprehensive testing to verify that the vulnerability has been properly addressed. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security practices and the critical need for proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content.