CVE-2022-27860 in Footer Text Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/28/2022
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) leading to Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in Shea Bunge's Footer Text plugin
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-27860 represents a critical security flaw in Shea Bunge's Footer Text WordPress plugin that demonstrates the dangerous intersection of cross-site request forgery and cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability allows authenticated attackers with contributor-level privileges or higher to exploit a CSRF weakness that ultimately leads to persistent XSS execution within the WordPress admin environment. The flaw resides in the plugin's insufficient validation of user requests, specifically failing to implement proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms when processing administrative actions. This oversight creates a pathway for attackers to craft malicious requests that, when executed by authenticated users, can inject malicious scripts into the footer text configuration interface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the WordPress admin context, where users typically have elevated privileges and access to sensitive system functions. The attack vector exploits the trust relationship between the web application and authenticated users, leveraging the fact that the plugin does not adequately verify the authenticity of requests originating from administrative interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper CSRF protection mechanisms within the plugin's administrative endpoints. When administrators interact with the footer text configuration, the plugin fails to validate that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same session. This lack of validation creates an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious payloads that, when executed through a CSRF attack, can inject script content into the footer text field. The XSS component manifests when the malicious script content is subsequently rendered in the admin interface, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the authenticated user's browser. This creates a persistent threat where the malicious scripts can capture credentials, modify content, or perform other malicious activities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications, and demonstrates how CSRF flaws can serve as a stepping stone to more severe XSS vulnerabilities. The attack requires minimal privileges but can result in significant compromise of the WordPress installation's administrative capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-27860 extends far beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the WordPress administration environment. Once exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to modify footer text content with malicious scripts that can be executed whenever administrators view the affected pages. This persistent XSS vulnerability allows for credential theft, session hijacking, and potential privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only contributor-level access, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by users who do not typically have full administrative privileges. Attackers can use this vulnerability to establish backdoors, modify website content, or redirect users to malicious sites. The impact is compounded by the fact that the malicious scripts can persist across multiple sessions and page views, creating a long-term threat vector. The vulnerability also demonstrates how seemingly minor security oversights in plugin development can create substantial risks for entire WordPress installations, particularly when the affected plugin is widely used. Organizations relying on the affected plugin may experience unauthorized content modification, data breaches, and potential compromise of user data through credential harvesting.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-27860 should focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates, as the vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases of the Shea Bunge Footer Text plugin. Administrators should ensure all instances of the plugin are updated to versions containing proper CSRF protection mechanisms and input validation. The implementation of proper anti-CSRF tokens within all administrative endpoints represents the primary defensive measure, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and ATT&CK framework's defensive strategies for web application security. Additionally, organizations should implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious CSRF request patterns. Regular security audits of WordPress plugins should include verification of CSRF protection mechanisms, particularly for plugins handling administrative configurations. Access control measures should be strengthened to limit the number of users with contributor privileges or higher, as this reduces the attack surface for such vulnerabilities. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual administrative activities and content modifications that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution and prevent successful XSS exploitation, providing defense-in-depth against similar threats. Organizations should also consider implementing role-based access controls that restrict administrative functions to minimal required privileges, reducing the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts.