CVE-2022-4629 in Product Slider for WooCommerce Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/23/2023
The Product Slider for WooCommerce WordPress plugin before 2.6.4 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 • 04/03/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4629 affects the Product Slider for WooCommerce WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 2.6.4, presenting a critical stored cross-site scripting vulnerability that exploits insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms. This flaw allows users with minimal privileges, including contributors who typically have limited capabilities within WordPress environments, to inject malicious scripts that persist in the plugin's shortcode attributes. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly sanitize and escape user-supplied data before rendering it back to the page, creating an avenue for attackers to execute malicious code against higher-privilege users such as administrators. The issue manifests through the plugin's shortcode processing functionality where attributes are directly embedded into HTML output without adequate security measures.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a contributor user creates or modifies a product slider shortcode containing malicious JavaScript payloads within its attributes. These attributes are then stored in the WordPress database and subsequently rendered on pages where the shortcode is displayed, causing the malicious script to execute in the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS attack because the malicious code is permanently stored within the application's database rather than being executed through a single request. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which specifically addresses the failure to sanitize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal privilege escalation and can target high-value administrative accounts within the WordPress ecosystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including session hijacking, credential theft, and privilege escalation within the WordPress environment. High-privilege users who view pages containing the compromised shortcode become vulnerable to attacks that could compromise their sessions and potentially lead to full administrative control of the WordPress site. The vulnerability also creates risks for data integrity and confidentiality, as attackers could use the stored XSS to capture sensitive information or manipulate content displayed to other users. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell and T1566.001 - Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment, as it enables attackers to deliver malicious payloads that can be executed in the context of privileged users. The risk is compounded by the fact that contributors typically have access to various content management functions, making them effective vectors for initial compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the Product Slider for WooCommerce plugin to version 2.6.4 or later, which addresses the insufficient input validation and output escaping issues. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that sanitize all user-supplied data before processing, particularly for shortcode attributes that are rendered in HTML contexts. Regular security audits of installed WordPress plugins should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities across the entire WordPress ecosystem. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers can provide an additional layer of protection against XSS attacks by restricting the sources from which scripts can be executed. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious shortcode usage patterns, and privilege escalation should be carefully reviewed to ensure that contributor accounts have minimal exposure to potentially harmful plugin functionalities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation and output escaping in web applications, particularly in content management systems where multiple user roles with varying privilege levels interact with plugin functionalities.