CVE-2022-3578 in ProfileGrid Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/14/2022
The ProfileGrid WordPress plugin before 5.1.1 does not sanitise and escape a parameter before outputting it back in the page, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2025
The ProfileGrid WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2022-3578 represents a critical security flaw that exposes WordPress sites to reflected cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability affects versions prior to 5.1.1 and stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase. The flaw occurs when user-supplied parameters are directly incorporated into HTML output without proper validation or encoding, creating an avenue for malicious actors to inject harmful scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output escaping. When a user visits a maliciously crafted URL containing script payload, the vulnerable plugin fails to sanitize the input parameter before rendering it in the HTML response. This reflected XSS vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of a victim's browser session, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or unauthorized actions performed on behalf of the user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution as it can enable sophisticated attack chains. An attacker could craft malicious links that, when clicked by an administrator or authenticated user, would execute scripts that steal session cookies or modify plugin functionality. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious payload must be delivered through a crafted URL, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or when users are tricked into clicking malicious links. This vulnerability affects WordPress sites using ProfileGrid plugin versions below 5.1.1, potentially compromising thousands of websites that have not updated to the patched version.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-3578 focus on immediate plugin updates to version 5.1.1 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Security administrators should also implement additional defensive measures such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious input patterns, regular security scanning of WordPress installations, and monitoring for unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output escaping practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security controls, where proper sanitization of user inputs is fundamental to preventing XSS attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers as an additional layer of defense against script injection attacks, though this protection alone is insufficient without proper code-level fixes. Regular security audits and keeping all WordPress plugins and themes updated remain essential practices for maintaining overall system security posture and preventing exploitation of known vulnerabilities.