CVE-2022-4471 in YARPP Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/13/2023
The YARPP WordPress plugin through 5.30.1 does not validate and escape some of its shortcode attributes before outputting them back in the page, which could allow users with a role as low as contributor to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks which could be used against high privilege users such as admins.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/12/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4471 affects the YARPP WordPress plugin version 5.30.1 and earlier, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting weakness that undermines the security posture of WordPress installations. This flaw exists within the plugin's shortcode attribute handling mechanism where insufficient input validation and output escaping permits malicious code injection. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited by users holding the contributor role, which is typically considered a low-privilege level within WordPress's user hierarchy, yet this access level is sufficient to execute attacks against administrators and other high-privilege users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize shortcode parameters before rendering them in the web page output. When contributors create or modify content containing YARPP shortcodes, the plugin processes these attributes without adequate validation or escaping mechanisms. This creates an environment where malicious scripts can be stored within the plugin's shortcode parameters and subsequently executed whenever the page is rendered to other users. The stored nature of this XSS vulnerability means that the malicious payload persists in the database and affects all users who view the affected content, making it particularly dangerous for administrators who may unknowingly interact with compromised pages.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to WordPress site security as it allows for privilege escalation through social engineering or automated exploitation. Attackers can craft malicious shortcodes that, when viewed by administrators, execute malicious JavaScript code in the admin context. This could potentially lead to session hijacking, data exfiltration, or further compromise of the WordPress installation. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that contributors often have access to content creation features and may not be as security-conscious as administrators, creating multiple potential attack vectors. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that even if the initial injection point is patched, previously stored malicious content remains active and dangerous.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to the patched version of the YARPP plugin, implementing proper input validation for all user-supplied content, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies and monitoring for unusual shortcode usage patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper output escaping and input validation in web applications, particularly in content management systems where multiple user roles with varying privilege levels interact with the same platform. Regular security assessments of WordPress plugins and themes remain essential for maintaining secure web environments and preventing exploitation of such vulnerabilities.