CVE-2022-4488 in Widgets on Pages Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/13/2023
The Widgets on Pages WordPress plugin through 1.6.0 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-2022-4488 affects the Widgets on Pages WordPress plugin version 1.6.0 and earlier, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress installations. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode processing functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into web pages. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited by users with relatively low privileges, specifically contributors who typically have limited capabilities within WordPress environments. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate shortcode attributes in ways that bypass standard security measures, potentially enabling them to execute arbitrary code within the context of high-privilege user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied data before rendering it back to web browsers. When the Widgets on Pages plugin processes shortcode attributes, it does not adequately validate the input or escape special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This lack of proper sanitization creates an environment where malicious payloads can be stored within the shortcode parameters and subsequently executed when the page content is rendered. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a stored XSS variant where the malicious code persists in the database and affects multiple users. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious shortcode parameters that contain script tags or other executable code elements, which then get embedded into the page content and executed when other users view the affected pages.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-4488 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to compromise high-privilege accounts within the WordPress environment. When contributor-level users can execute stored XSS attacks against administrators, it creates a significant escalation of privileges threat vector that can lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability enables attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions within the WordPress admin interface, modify content, create new user accounts, or even install malware. This threat is particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where administrators frequently view pages containing user-generated content or where contributors have access to pages that display plugin-generated content. The stored nature of the XSS attack means that the malicious code persists even after the initial injection, making it difficult to detect and remove from the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-4488 should prioritize immediate plugin updates to versions that address the sanitization and escaping vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures that ensure all user-supplied data is properly sanitized before being processed by the plugin. Security professionals should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers that limit the execution of inline scripts and restrict external resource loading to prevent exploitation of XSS vulnerabilities. Additionally, administrators should conduct regular security audits of installed plugins and maintain updated security monitoring systems that can detect suspicious shortcode usage patterns. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1566 - Phishing and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the need for layered defensive strategies that include user education, network monitoring, and application-level security controls to prevent successful exploitation attempts.