CVE-2022-44591 in Anthologize Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/18/2022
Auth. (admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Anthologize plugin <= 0.8.0 on WordPress.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2022
The CVE-2022-44591 vulnerability represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Anthologize plugin version 0.8.0 and earlier, specifically affecting WordPress environments. This vulnerability resides in the plugin's administrative interface where authenticated users with administrator privileges or higher can exploit the flaw. The issue stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's codebase, creating a persistent security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors who have gained administrative access or can manipulate the system through other means.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker with admin-level privileges injects malicious JavaScript code into the plugin's administrative forms or data entry points. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload is permanently saved within the application's database and subsequently executed whenever legitimate users access the affected pages. This creates a persistent threat vector where the injected script can perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing unauthorized operations on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in WordPress environments where administrators often have elevated privileges and may be less cautious about input validation.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-44591 extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to establish persistent backdoors, steal sensitive administrative credentials, and potentially compromise entire WordPress installations. When combined with other vulnerabilities or through social engineering tactics, this XSS flaw can facilitate privilege escalation attacks and lead to complete system compromise. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the attack persists even after the initial injection, making it particularly difficult to detect and remediate. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices that require proper input validation and output encoding.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the XSS flaw, as the original affected version 0.8.0 and earlier contain no built-in protections against malicious input. Administrators should implement comprehensive input validation and output encoding measures, particularly for all user-supplied data that is stored and subsequently displayed within the application. The principle of least privilege should be enforced by limiting administrative access to only necessary personnel and implementing multi-factor authentication to reduce the attack surface. Additionally, regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities, with network monitoring in place to detect suspicious activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content security policies to provide additional layers of defense against XSS attacks, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's methodology for defending against web-based attacks.