CVE-2022-45846 in Nickys Image Map Pro Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/10/2023
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Nickys Image Map Pro for WordPress - Interactive SVG Image Map Builder plugin < 5.6.9 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2023
The CVE-2022-45846 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw affecting the Nickys Image Map Pro plugin for WordPress, specifically versions prior to 5.6.9. This vulnerability resides within the plugin's interactive svg image map builder functionality, which allows users to create dynamic image maps with clickable areas. The flaw stems from inadequate validation of HTTP request origins and missing anti-CSRF tokens in the plugin's administrative interfaces. Attackers can exploit this weakness by tricking authenticated administrators into executing unintended actions through maliciously crafted web requests that appear legitimate to the WordPress application.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs at the application layer where the plugin fails to properly verify the referer header or implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms. When administrators interact with the plugin's administrative dashboard to manage image maps, the application does not validate whether requests originate from legitimate sources within the same domain. This absence of proper origin validation creates an attack surface where malicious actors can construct specially crafted requests that, when executed by an authenticated administrator, perform unauthorized operations such as modifying image map configurations, adding new map elements, or potentially escalating privileges within the plugin's administrative scope.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data modification as it can enable attackers to gain persistent control over the affected WordPress installation through the compromised plugin. An attacker who successfully exploits this CSRF vulnerability could potentially modify image map configurations to redirect users to malicious domains, inject malicious code into image map elements, or create backdoor access points within the plugin's functionality. The vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely heavily on interactive image maps for their websites, as the administrative interface provides extensive control over map elements and their associated behaviors. The attack vector typically involves social engineering tactics where administrators are tricked into visiting malicious websites that contain embedded CSRF attack payloads, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments with less security awareness among users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-45846 primarily focus on immediate plugin updates to version 5.6.9 or later, which includes proper CSRF token implementation and enhanced request validation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as network-level protections including web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious request patterns, and regular security audits of installed plugins to identify other potential vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses cross-site request forgery weaknesses in web applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1548.002 which involves privilege escalation through abuse of application permissions, and T1071.001 which covers application layer protocol usage for command and control communications. Security teams should also consider implementing role-based access controls and regular monitoring of administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability specifically targets administrative interfaces and can result in complete compromise of the affected WordPress installation.