CVE-2022-4171 in Demon Image Annotation Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/14/2022
The demon image annotation plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to improper input validation in versions up to, and including 5.0. This is due to the plugin improperly validating the number of characters supplied during an annotation despite there being a setting to limit the number characters input. This means that unauthenticated attackers can bypass the length restrictions and input more characters than allowed via the settings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/09/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4171 affects the demon image annotation plugin for WordPress, representing a critical security flaw that undermines input validation mechanisms within the software ecosystem. This issue manifests in versions up to and including 5.0, where the plugin fails to properly enforce character limits that are ostensibly configured by administrators. The flaw exists at the core of how the plugin processes user input during annotation creation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent intended security controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation routines that should have enforced the maximum character limits set by administrators through plugin configuration settings. When users attempt to create image annotations, the system fails to properly sanitize or validate the input length against the configured threshold, allowing attackers to submit annotations containing more characters than permitted. This represents a classic case of insufficient input validation that can be classified under CWE-20, which specifically addresses improper input validation issues in software systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data integrity concerns, as it enables unauthenticated attackers to exploit the system's configuration controls without requiring any valid credentials or privileged access. This creates a significant risk for WordPress installations that rely on the demon image annotation plugin for content management, as malicious actors can potentially flood the system with excessive data, consume server resources, or potentially use the overflow to trigger additional vulnerabilities within the application stack. The bypass of length restrictions also opens possibilities for denial of service conditions or data corruption scenarios.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a potential entry point for broader exploitation campaigns targeting WordPress environments, particularly those that may leverage the overflow conditions to trigger additional weaknesses in the underlying system architecture. The lack of authentication requirements for exploiting this flaw makes it especially dangerous in public-facing applications where any user can potentially access the annotation functionality. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate plugin updates to versions that properly implement character validation, along with monitoring for anomalous annotation activities that might indicate exploitation attempts.
The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly simple configuration controls can become security risks when proper validation mechanisms are not implemented throughout the software lifecycle. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1213 which involves data from information repositories, as attackers can potentially leverage the bypassed restrictions to access or manipulate stored annotation data beyond intended parameters. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to address this vulnerability promptly, while also reviewing other plugins for similar validation issues that might create comparable security exposures in their WordPress environments.