CVE-2022-47137 in Ninja Tables Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/10/2023
Auth. (admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in WPManageNinja LLC Ninja Tables plugin <= 4.3.4 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2022-47137 represents a stored cross-site scripting flaw within the Ninja Tables plugin for WordPress, specifically affecting versions up to and including 4.3.4. This issue resides in the administrative interface of the plugin, where authenticated users with administrator privileges or higher can exploit the vulnerability. The flaw allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into the plugin's data storage mechanisms, which then execute whenever authorized users view the affected content. The vulnerability is classified as a stored XSS because the malicious code is permanently saved in the application's database and executed each time the affected data is rendered to users with appropriate permissions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and output escaping within the Ninja Tables plugin's administrative components. When administrators or privileged users create or modify table configurations, the plugin fails to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied data before storing it in the WordPress database. This insufficient validation creates an opportunity for attackers to inject malicious JavaScript code through form fields or data import mechanisms that the plugin processes. The vulnerability specifically affects the plugin's table rendering functionality, where user-provided data is directly embedded into HTML output without proper encoding or sanitization. This flaw aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation, which is a fundamental weakness in web application security that enables XSS attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for WordPress environments utilizing the affected Ninja Tables plugin. An attacker with administrator-level access can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the context of the victim's browser, potentially leading to complete compromise of the affected WordPress installation. The attack could result in unauthorized data manipulation, privilege escalation, session hijacking, or the installation of additional malware. Since the vulnerability requires only administrator-level privileges to exploit, it represents a critical risk for any WordPress site where administrators might be compromised or where the privilege model is not properly enforced. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that the malicious code persists across multiple user sessions and page views, amplifying the potential damage and making it particularly dangerous for environments with multiple administrators or frequent administrative activity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-47137 should prioritize immediate remediation through the official plugin update to version 4.3.5 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the input validation and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should also implement network-based security controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script payloads in real-time. Additionally, administrators should conduct thorough security audits of their WordPress installations, reviewing user permissions and implementing the principle of least privilege to minimize the potential impact of compromised administrator accounts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software components and implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1566 - Phishing and T1078 - Valid Accounts, as it can be exploited through social engineering to gain administrative access or through compromised administrator credentials to execute malicious payloads. Regular security monitoring and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify similar weaknesses in other plugins and themes within the WordPress ecosystem, as this represents a common class of vulnerability that affects numerous web applications.