CVE-2022-3609 in GetYourGuide Ticketing Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/12/2022
The GetYourGuide Ticketing WordPress plugin before 1.0.4 does not sanitise and escape some parameters, which could allow high privilege users such as admin to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks even when the unfiltered_html capability is disallowed (for example in multisite setup)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3609 affects the GetYourGuide Ticketing WordPress plugin version 1.0.3 and earlier, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that undermines web application security. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's failure to properly sanitise and escape user-supplied parameters, creating an attack vector that can be exploited by high-privilege users such as administrators. The flaw becomes particularly dangerous in multisite WordPress environments where the unfiltered_html capability is typically restricted to prevent malicious code injection. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, allowing attackers to inject malicious scripts that persist in the application's database and execute whenever affected pages are loaded.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess administrative privileges or equivalent high-privilege access within the WordPress environment, as the flaw specifically targets parameters that are processed by users with elevated permissions. The vulnerability manifests as a stored XSS attack because malicious payloads are saved to the database and executed against other users who view the affected content, rather than requiring a direct attack vector. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as the malicious scripts can persist indefinitely until manually removed from the database. The security implications extend beyond simple script execution, as these stored payloads can be used to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or redirect victims to malicious websites, effectively compromising the entire WordPress installation.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-3609 is substantial, particularly in enterprise environments where WordPress multisite installations are common and strict security policies are enforced. The vulnerability undermines the principle of least privilege by allowing administrators to execute malicious code even when their capabilities are restricted through the unfiltered_html capability, which is a standard security measure in WordPress multisite configurations. This creates a scenario where the security controls designed to protect against XSS attacks are bypassed, potentially leading to complete compromise of the WordPress installation. Organizations using the affected plugin version face risks including data theft, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and potential lateral movement within their network infrastructure through compromised WordPress environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary and most effective mitigation is upgrading to plugin version 1.0.4 or later, which contains the necessary sanitisation and escaping fixes. Security teams should also implement comprehensive input validation across all user-supplied data within WordPress installations, particularly in multisite environments where privilege escalation risks are heightened. Additional protective measures include regular security audits of installed plugins, implementation of web application firewalls, and monitoring for suspicious activities related to user account modifications. Organizations should also consider implementing privilege separation and role-based access controls to minimize the potential impact of compromised administrator accounts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 (Cross-site Scripting) and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) through potential post-exploitation activities that could leverage the stored XSS capability for further system compromise.