CVE-2022-4546 in Mapwiz Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/13/2023
The Mapwiz WordPress plugin through 1.0.1 does not properly sanitise and escape a parameter before using it in a SQL statement, leading to a SQL injection exploitable by high privilege users such as admin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4546 affects the Mapwiz WordPress plugin version 1.0.1 and earlier, representing a critical SQL injection flaw that undermines the security integrity of WordPress installations. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's handling of user-supplied input parameters that are subsequently incorporated into database queries without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms. The flaw specifically targets the plugin's data processing routines where user-provided parameters are directly concatenated into SQL statements, creating an avenue for malicious exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping practices within the Mapwiz plugin codebase. When high-privilege users such as administrators interact with the plugin's functionality, they inadvertently expose the system to SQL injection attacks due to the absence of proper parameter sanitization. This vulnerability operates under CWE-89 which classifies SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper escaping or validation. The attack vector specifically exploits the plugin's failure to implement prepared statements or proper input filtering mechanisms when processing database queries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to WordPress environments as it requires only administrative privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in compromised environments where attackers may have already gained administrative access. The impact extends beyond simple data theft, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary database commands, modify or delete sensitive information, and escalate their privileges within the affected system. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete system compromise, especially when combined with other attack techniques that may be part of a broader exploitation strategy. Security researchers have categorized this under ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers legitimate credentials usage, as the vulnerability leverages existing administrative access to execute malicious SQL commands.
The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious input parameters that, when processed by the vulnerable plugin, result in malformed SQL statements that execute unintended database operations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive data from the WordPress database, modify user accounts, or even inject malicious code into the system. The vulnerability's persistence is particularly concerning as it remains active until the plugin is updated or patched, potentially providing attackers with long-term access to compromised systems. Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies including plugin updates, input validation enforcement, and monitoring for suspicious database activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-4546 should prioritize the immediate upgrade of the Mapwiz plugin to a patched version that implements proper parameter sanitization and escaping mechanisms. Security administrators should also implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for SQL injection patterns and establish database query auditing procedures to identify potentially malicious activities. Additionally, implementing the principle of least privilege and regular security assessments can help reduce the overall attack surface and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web application development, serving as a reminder of the essential security practices that must be implemented throughout the software development lifecycle to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases.