CVE-2022-4243 in ImageInject Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 12/26/2022
The ImageInject WordPress plugin through TODO does not sanitise and escape some of its settings, 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 • 04/12/2025
The CVE-2022-4243 vulnerability resides within the ImageInject WordPress plugin, where inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms create persistent security risks for affected systems. This flaw specifically targets high-privilege user accounts such as administrators, who can leverage the vulnerability even in environments where the unfiltered_html capability has been restricted. The vulnerability manifests in WordPress multisite configurations where security restrictions are typically more stringent, making the attack vector particularly concerning for organizations implementing robust security policies.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize user-provided input data before storing it in the WordPress database. When administrators configure plugin settings through the administrative interface, malicious scripts can be injected into configurable fields without proper validation. These scripts are then stored persistently within the system and executed whenever the affected settings are rendered in the administrative interface or displayed to users. The vulnerability represents a classic stored cross-site scripting flaw that operates outside the typical boundaries of WordPress's security mechanisms, particularly when the unfiltered_html capability is disabled as a protective measure against XSS attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-4243 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to administrative functions and sensitive system information. When high-privilege users inadvertently interact with compromised plugin settings, the stored scripts can execute in their browser context, potentially leading to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation attacks. In multisite environments, this vulnerability becomes even more dangerous as it can affect multiple sites within a single WordPress installation, potentially compromising an entire network of related websites. The vulnerability's persistence means that once exploited, the malicious scripts continue to execute until manually removed from the plugin configuration, creating a long-term security risk that can be difficult to detect and remediate.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version of the ImageInject plugin, reviewing all plugin configurations for potential malicious input, and conducting thorough security audits of administrative interfaces. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Additional defensive measures should include implementing strict input validation policies, monitoring administrative interface access patterns, and establishing regular security scanning procedures to identify similar vulnerabilities in other plugins. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious script injection attempts, while maintaining detailed logging of administrative activities to facilitate incident response and forensic analysis.