CVE-2022-29426 in Image Slider Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/21/2022
Authenticated (contributor or higher user role) Reflected Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in 2J Slideshow Team's Slideshow, Image Slider by 2J plugin
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2022
This authenticated reflected cross-site scripting vulnerability exists within the 2J Slideshow plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting users with contributor roles or higher privileges. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's administrative interface, which are then reflected back to other users who view the affected pages. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's handling of user-supplied data in administrative contexts. Attackers with contributor access can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the browsers of other users, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation of the compromised WordPress installation.
The technical implementation of this XSS vulnerability occurs when the plugin processes user input without proper sanitization before rendering it in administrative interfaces. This creates a reflected XSS vector where malicious payloads are injected through parameters that are immediately reflected back to the user's browser. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only contributor-level privileges, which are commonly granted to content creators, editors, or authors within WordPress environments. This low privilege requirement significantly increases the attack surface and potential impact compared to vulnerabilities requiring administrator access. The flaw aligns with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities resulting from improper sanitization of user-controllable input.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges within the WordPress environment. An attacker could potentially use the XSS to steal administrator session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject additional malicious code that could persist across multiple user sessions. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload must be delivered through a specific URL or parameter, making it difficult to exploit automatically but still highly dangerous when executed by unsuspecting administrators. This vulnerability also represents a significant concern for organizations with multiple content contributors, as it provides a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates from the vendor, which would address the underlying input validation issues. Organizations should also implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script patterns in HTTP requests. Regular security auditing of WordPress plugins and themes remains essential, particularly for plugins that handle user-generated content in administrative contexts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices including input validation, output encoding, and principle of least privilege. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as role-based access controls, regular security scanning, and monitoring for unusual administrative activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.001, which covers privilege escalation through abuse of administrative access, and highlights the critical need for securing all user roles within CMS environments.