CVE-2022-29432 in wpDataTables Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/21/2022
Multiple Authenticated (administrator or higher user role) Persistent Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in TMS-Plugins wpDataTables plugin
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-29432 represents a critical security flaw within the wpDataTables plugin for WordPress systems. This vulnerability specifically affects users with administrator or higher privileges who are authenticated within the WordPress environment. The flaw manifests as multiple persistent cross-site scripting vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers who have already gained administrative access to a WordPress site. These vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they allow for persistent malicious code execution within the context of the victim's browser, potentially enabling attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the wpDataTables plugin. When administrators interact with the plugin's administrative interfaces, particularly when managing data tables or configuration settings, the plugin fails to properly sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. This lack of proper sanitization creates opportunities for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript payloads that persist in the database and execute whenever affected pages are loaded. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the plugin's handling of user inputs in administrative contexts, making it particularly dangerous for systems where administrators frequently interact with data table management features.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-29432 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. Persistent XSS vulnerabilities of this nature can enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation within the compromised WordPress environment. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to maintain persistent access to the system, modify content, install additional malware, or use the compromised system as a launchpad for attacking other systems within the network. The persistent nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious payloads continue to execute without requiring repeated exploitation attempts, making detection and remediation more challenging. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting vulnerabilities, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through social engineering.
Security professionals should immediately implement multiple layers of mitigation for this vulnerability. The primary recommendation involves updating the wpDataTables plugin to the latest version where the XSS vulnerabilities have been patched. Organizations should also implement strict input validation and output encoding practices within their WordPress environments, particularly for administrative interfaces. Web Application Firewalls can provide additional protection by filtering malicious payloads before they reach the application layer. Regular security audits and monitoring of administrative interfaces should be conducted to detect unusual activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing principle of least privilege access controls and regular security training for administrators can help reduce the risk of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party plugins and the potential consequences of failing to address known security flaws in commonly used WordPress components. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can identify and alert on the presence of known vulnerable plugins within their WordPress installations.