CVE-2022-4166 in Contest Gallery Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2022
The Contest Gallery WordPress plugin before 19.1.5.1, Contest Gallery Pro WordPress plugin before 19.1.5.1 do not escape the addCountS POST parameter before concatenating it to an SQL query in 4_activate.php. This may allow malicious users with at least author privilege to leak sensitive information from the site's database.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4166 affects the Contest Gallery WordPress plugin and its Pro variant, specifically versions prior to 19.1.5.1. This represents a critical security flaw that stems from improper input sanitization within the plugin's backend processing logic. The vulnerability manifests in the 4_activate.php file where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without adequate escaping mechanisms, creating a potential pathway for SQL injection attacks. The affected plugin operates within the WordPress ecosystem, which serves as a foundational platform for millions of websites worldwide, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security perspective.
The technical flaw resides in the handling of the addCountS POST parameter, which is processed without proper sanitization before being concatenated into SQL query strings. This lack of input validation creates an environment where malicious actors can manipulate the parameter to inject arbitrary SQL code into the database query execution flow. The vulnerability specifically requires at least author-level privileges to exploit, which aligns with the WordPress permission model where authors typically have limited but functional capabilities within the content management system. This privilege requirement does not diminish the severity of the issue, as it still provides attackers with a means to extract sensitive database information that could include user credentials, personal data, or other confidential site resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage, as it enables unauthorized access to potentially sensitive information stored within the WordPress database. Attackers could leverage this flaw to extract user account details, including hashed passwords, personal information, and other confidential data that may be stored in the plugin's database tables. The vulnerability's presence in both the standard and Pro versions of the plugin indicates a widespread exposure across different user bases, potentially affecting numerous websites that rely on this specific plugin for contest management functionality. This creates a significant risk for organizations that may have multiple instances of the vulnerable plugin installed across their WordPress environments.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of the CWE-89 weakness classification, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper escaping or parameterization. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1071.004 technique for application layer protocol manipulation, as it involves exploiting weaknesses in application code to manipulate database interactions. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched versions 19.1.5.1 and later, implementing proper input validation measures, and monitoring for suspicious POST parameter usage within their web application firewalls. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all installed WordPress plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure proper security practices are maintained across their digital infrastructure.