CVE-2022-40211 in GiveWP Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in GiveWP allows Stored XSS.This issue affects GiveWP: from n/a through 2.25.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2026
Cross-site scripting vulnerabilities represent one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security flaws, with the potential to compromise user sessions and execute malicious code within the context of a victim's browser. The GiveWP platform, a popular WordPress donation plugin, was found to contain a stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that allowed attackers to inject malicious scripts into the web application's output. This particular vulnerability stems from improper input sanitization during web page generation processes, where user-supplied data is not adequately neutralized before being rendered in web pages. The flaw affects all versions of GiveWP from the initial release through version 2.25.1, indicating a prolonged period during which the vulnerability remained unaddressed. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that malicious scripts are permanently stored on the server and executed whenever affected pages are accessed by other users, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect multiple victims without requiring repeated exploitation attempts. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-site Scripting and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through malicious web content. The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can potentially enable session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation attacks. Attackers could exploit this weakness to steal administrator credentials, modify donation forms, redirect users to malicious sites, or inject malware into the target environment. The vulnerability's persistence in the application's codebase for an extended period highlights the critical importance of regular security audits and input validation practices. Organizations using GiveWP versions within the affected range face significant risk of unauthorized access and data compromise, particularly in environments where administrative privileges are granted to multiple users or where sensitive donation information is processed. The remediation requires immediate patching of the affected software versions, alongside implementation of proper input sanitization and output encoding mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should consider deploying web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious script injection patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle, particularly focusing on input validation and output encoding practices that are essential for preventing XSS attacks. Proper implementation of content security policies and regular security assessments can significantly reduce the risk of such vulnerabilities being exploited in real-world scenarios. Organizations should also maintain awareness of the latest security advisories and ensure timely deployment of security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities in third-party software components.