CVE-2022-4544 in Social Media Share Buttons Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2023
The MashShare WordPress plugin before 3.8.7 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 • 04/04/2025
The MashShare WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2022-4544 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that exists in versions prior to 3.8.7. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode processing functionality. The flaw allows attackers with minimal privileges, specifically contributors who can create and edit posts, to inject malicious scripts that persist in the plugin's shortcode attributes. These scripts are then executed whenever the affected shortcode is rendered on a webpage, creating a persistent threat vector that can target users with higher privileges including administrators.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-79 which specifically addresses Cross-Site Scripting flaws in web applications. The vulnerability operates through a classic stored XSS pattern where malicious input is first saved to the database and then executed during subsequent page rendering. In the context of WordPress, this occurs when the MashShare plugin processes shortcode attributes without proper sanitization, allowing HTML and JavaScript content to be stored and subsequently displayed without appropriate escaping. The contributor role privilege level is particularly concerning as it represents a low barrier to entry for exploitation, making the vulnerability accessible to users who typically have limited administrative capabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-4544 extends beyond simple script execution as it creates a persistent threat that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and broader attack vectors. When high-privilege users such as administrators view pages containing the malicious shortcode, their browsers execute the injected scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or further compromise of the WordPress installation. Attackers can craft payloads that redirect victims to malicious sites, steal cookies, or inject additional malware. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious code remains active until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with sustained access to target systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate plugin updates to version 3.8.7 or later, which contain the necessary input validation and output escaping fixes. Security administrators should also implement comprehensive monitoring of plugin directories and database entries for suspicious shortcode modifications. Additional defensive measures include restricting contributor user roles from creating content that might be processed through plugins with known vulnerabilities, implementing content security policies to limit script execution, and conducting regular security audits of installed plugins. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1548.003 which covers Abuse of Functionality, as it exploits legitimate plugin functionality to achieve unauthorized access and privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular penetration testing to identify similar vulnerabilities in their WordPress environments.