CVE-2022-4658 in RSSImport Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/16/2023
The RSSImport WordPress plugin through 4.6.1 does not validate and escape one of its shortcode attributes, which could allow users with a role as low as contributor to perform Stored Cross-Site Scripting attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2025
The CVE-2022-4658 vulnerability resides within the RSSImport WordPress plugin version 4.6.1 and earlier, representing a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that undermines the security posture of WordPress installations. This vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's shortcode implementation where it fails to properly validate and escape user-supplied input parameters, creating an exploitable entry point for malicious actors. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires only a contributor-level user role to execute, making it accessible to users who typically possess limited privileges within WordPress environments. This accessibility significantly broadens the potential attack surface and demonstrates a fundamental failure in input sanitization practices within the plugin's codebase.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of shortcode attributes within the RSSImport plugin, where the system fails to implement adequate validation and sanitization measures before processing user-provided data. When a contributor creates or modifies content containing a maliciously crafted shortcode with unescaped attributes, the payload gets stored within the WordPress database and subsequently executed whenever the content is rendered or displayed. This stored XSS vulnerability operates by injecting malicious JavaScript code through the shortcode parameter, which then executes in the context of other users' browsers when they view pages containing the compromised content. The vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting flaws as weaknesses in input validation and output encoding, specifically addressing the failure to properly sanitize untrusted data before it is rendered in web pages.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-4658 extends beyond simple data theft or defacement, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user credentials, or redirect victims to malicious websites. Since contributors can exploit this vulnerability, attackers can potentially compromise user sessions, access restricted content, or manipulate the plugin's functionality to serve as a persistent backdoor within the WordPress installation. The stored nature of this XSS attack means that the malicious payload remains active until manually removed from the database, allowing attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised systems. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress environments where contributor accounts are shared among multiple users or where the plugin is widely used in multi-user scenarios, as it creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple sessions and user interactions.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the latest version of the RSSImport plugin where the vulnerability has been patched, applying the WordPress core update if applicable, and implementing additional security measures such as input validation at the web application firewall level. Administrators should also conduct thorough audits of existing content to identify any potentially compromised shortcode parameters and review contributor user permissions to limit access to plugin functionalities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles, specifically addressing the need for comprehensive sanitization of all user-supplied data before processing or storage. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies to further mitigate the impact of potential XSS attacks, while the ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for script injection techniques, highlighting the need for robust defensive measures against such persistent threats in web application environments.