CVE-2022-4306 in Panda Pods Repeater Field Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/30/2023
The Panda Pods Repeater Field WordPress plugin before 1.5.4 does not sanitize and escapes a parameter before outputting it back in the page, leading to a Reflected Cross-Site Scripting which could be used against a user having at least Contributor permission.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4306 affects the Panda Pods Repeater Field WordPress plugin version 1.5.3 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables reflected cross-site scripting attacks. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and output sanitization within the plugin's code implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject arbitrary scripts into web pages viewed by authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's handling of user-supplied parameters that are subsequently echoed back to the browser without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests when the plugin fails to sanitize a parameter before incorporating it into HTML output, creating a reflected XSS vector that operates against users with at least Contributor level permissions. This permission level is significant as it represents a baseline level of user access that typically allows individuals to create and edit their own posts, making the attack surface more expansive than initially apparent. The reflected nature of the vulnerability means that malicious scripts are executed in the context of the victim's browser when they access a specially crafted URL containing the malicious payload, which is then reflected back by the vulnerable plugin.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with potential access to user sessions and the ability to perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. Contributors with access to the WordPress admin interface can inadvertently trigger the XSS attack when navigating to compromised pages, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or manipulate content displayed to the user. This vulnerability particularly concerns WordPress environments where multiple users with varying permission levels exist, as it creates a persistent threat vector that could be exploited across different user roles.
Security practitioners should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and align it with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for the initial access phase through malicious web content. The remediation approach requires immediate plugin updates to version 1.5.4 or later, which includes proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. Additionally, administrators should implement proper security monitoring to detect unusual user behavior patterns and consider implementing content security policies to mitigate the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their WordPress installations to identify other potentially vulnerable plugins that may exhibit similar sanitization issues, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar reflected XSS vulnerabilities in their web applications.