CVE-2022-41315 in Ezoic Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/18/2022
Auth. Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Ezoic plugin <= 2.8.8 on WordPress.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2022
The CVE-2022-41315 vulnerability represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Ezoic plugin version 2.8.8 and earlier for WordPress platforms. This security weakness allows authenticated attackers with sufficient privileges to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's administrative interface, which then get executed whenever other users view the affected pages. The vulnerability specifically resides in how the plugin processes and stores user input without proper sanitization, creating a persistent vector for malicious code execution. Attackers exploiting this flaw could potentially compromise user sessions, steal sensitive data, or manipulate content displayed to other administrators and users within the WordPress environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the Ezoic plugin's administrative components. When administrators or users with appropriate permissions enter data into plugin fields, the system fails to properly sanitize this input before storing it in the database. Subsequently, when this stored data is retrieved and rendered in the user interface, the malicious scripts execute within the context of other users' browsers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category for cross-site scripting, specifically classified as a stored XSS variant where the malicious payload is permanently stored on the server. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1566.001 - Phishing with Social Engineering and T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through web-based interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-41315 extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with elevated privileges within the WordPress ecosystem. Once successfully exploited, malicious actors could gain access to administrative functions, modify content, steal cookies and session tokens, or even establish persistent backdoors within the WordPress installation. The vulnerability affects any WordPress site running the affected Ezoic plugin version, making it particularly dangerous as it targets a widely used optimization and advertising plugin. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even after the initial exploitation, the malicious code continues to execute whenever affected pages are accessed, creating a persistent threat vector that could remain undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-41315 primarily focus on immediate remediation through plugin updates to version 2.8.9 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the input sanitization issues. System administrators should conduct comprehensive security audits of their WordPress installations to identify any potential exploitation attempts and monitor for unusual administrative activities. Additionally, implementing proper input validation measures and output encoding within the WordPress environment can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in other plugins or custom code. The security community recommends maintaining updated plugin versions, implementing web application firewalls, and conducting regular security assessments to identify and remediate potential XSS vulnerabilities across all web applications. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to limit the execution of unauthorized scripts and establish monitoring protocols for detecting unauthorized modifications to plugin configurations.