CVE-2022-4472 in Simple Sitemap Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/30/2023
The Simple Sitemap WordPress plugin before 3.5.8 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 • 03/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4472 affects the Simple Sitemap WordPress plugin version 3.5.7 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that enables stored cross-site scripting attacks through insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's shortcode attribute handling functionality, where user-provided input is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to web pages. The flaw allows threat actors with minimal privileges, including contributors who typically have limited access rights, to inject malicious scripts that persist within the plugin's output, making it particularly dangerous for high-privilege users such as administrators who may be unknowingly exposed to these attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly validate and escape shortcode attributes before incorporating them into HTML output. When contributors or other users with appropriate permissions create or modify content containing plugin shortcodes, the system accepts user input without adequate sanitization processes. This creates a persistent XSS vector where malicious scripts can be stored within the WordPress database and subsequently executed whenever the affected pages are accessed by other users, including administrators with elevated privileges. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications, and demonstrates how insufficient input validation can create persistent security risks within content management systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-4472 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges and compromise entire WordPress installations. When administrators view pages containing the maliciously injected scripts, these scripts can execute in the context of the admin session, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, modify content, or even gain complete administrative control over the WordPress site. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on contributor-level accounts for content management or user-generated content, as these roles are often granted sufficient privileges to create or modify pages containing shortcodes while lacking proper security controls. The attack vector leverages the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and control through script injection, making it a significant concern for enterprise security posture and web application hardening.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-4472 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to version 3.5.8 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for proper input validation and output escaping. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including restricting contributor-level privileges to prevent them from creating content with potentially dangerous shortcodes, implementing content security policies to limit script execution, and monitoring for suspicious shortcode usage patterns. Regular security audits should verify that all WordPress plugins maintain proper input validation and output escaping practices, with particular attention to how user-provided data is handled within shortcode implementations. The vulnerability underscores the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to OWASP Top Ten security principles, particularly in preventing injection flaws and ensuring proper input validation across all user-facing interfaces within web applications.