CVE-2022-3366 in PublishPress Capabilities Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 10/31/2022
The PublishPress Capabilities WordPress plugin before 2.5.2, PublishPress Capabilities Pro WordPress plugin before 2.5.2 unserializes the content of imported files, which could lead to PHP object injection attacks by administrators, on multisite WordPress configurations. Successful exploitation in this case requires other plugins with a suitable gadget chain to be present on the site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3366 affects the PublishPress Capabilities and PublishPress Capabilities Pro WordPress plugins, specifically versions prior to 2.5.2. This security flaw resides in the plugin's handling of imported files within multisite WordPress configurations, creating a potential attack vector for PHP object injection. The vulnerability manifests when administrators import configuration files that contain serialized PHP objects, which are then unserialized without proper sanitization or validation. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-502 category, specifically CWE-502: Deserialization of Untrusted Data, which is a well-documented weakness that allows attackers to manipulate serialized data structures and execute arbitrary code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs in the import functionality of the PublishPress plugins, where the system accepts user-supplied serialized data and processes it through PHP's unserialize() function. In multisite WordPress environments, this becomes particularly dangerous because administrators often have elevated privileges and may import configuration files from trusted sources. When an attacker can craft a malicious serialized object and convince an administrator to import it, the unserialize() function will execute the malicious code contained within the serialized data. This process creates a PHP object injection attack vector that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary commands on the server, potentially leading to complete compromise of the WordPress installation. The vulnerability requires additional components to be effective, as noted in the description, since it relies on having suitable gadget chains present in other plugins on the site, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1588.002: Develop Capabilities for Execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress multisite installations that use PublishPress Capabilities or PublishPress Capabilities Pro plugins. Administrators who import configuration files may unknowingly execute malicious code, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data breaches, or complete system compromise. The attack requires social engineering to convince administrators to import malicious files, but once successful, it provides attackers with the ability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability represents a critical risk in environments where multiple administrators have access to import functionality, as it can be exploited even when the administrator believes they are importing legitimate configuration data. The requirement for other plugins with suitable gadget chains means that attackers must first identify compatible plugins on the target system, but this is often feasible in typical WordPress environments where numerous plugins are installed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-3366 involve immediate patching of the affected plugins to version 2.5.2 or later, which addresses the unsafe unserialization of imported data. Organizations should also implement strict file validation and sanitization procedures for all import operations, particularly in multisite environments where administrators have elevated privileges. Security hardening measures should include restricting import functionality to only trusted administrators and implementing additional verification steps before processing imported files. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual import activities or attempts to manipulate serialized data structures. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure deserialization practices and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of plugin import mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and runtime application self-protection measures to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of installed plugins and their import handling capabilities are essential to identify similar vulnerabilities in other WordPress plugins that may pose similar risks.