CVE-2022-47181 in Email Templates Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/07/2023
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in wpexpertsio Email Templates Customizer and Designer for WordPress and WooCommerce email-templates allows Cross Site Request Forgery.This issue affects Email Templates Customizer and Designer for WordPress and WooCommerce: from n/a through 1.4.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/20/2025
This cross-site request forgery vulnerability exists within the wpexpertsio Email Templates Customizer and Designer plugin for WordPress and WooCommerce platforms, specifically impacting versions prior to 1.4.2. The flaw allows authenticated attackers with access to a victim's browser session to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim without their knowledge or consent. The vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to implement proper anti-CSRF token validation mechanisms in its administrative interfaces and API endpoints. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery conditions where applications fail to validate the origin of requests. The attack vector typically involves tricking a logged-in user into visiting a malicious website or clicking on a crafted link that submits requests to the vulnerable plugin's administrative functions. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable attackers to modify email templates, potentially compromising brand integrity and customer communications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a critical oversight in the plugin's security architecture where state-changing operations lack proper validation of request authenticity. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious requests that leverage the victim's authenticated session to perform administrative actions such as modifying email template configurations, adding malicious content, or potentially disrupting the email sending functionality. This vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the WordPress administration interface where the plugin's customizer functionality is exposed. The flaw represents a failure to implement the principle of least privilege and proper session management, allowing unauthorized modifications to occur through legitimate administrative pathways. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1566.002 which covers phishing with malicious attachments and links, as the attack often requires social engineering to deliver the malicious payload to the victim's browser.
The operational impact of this CSRF vulnerability is significant for WordPress administrators who rely on the plugin for email template management within their WooCommerce stores. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could compromise the integrity of email communications sent to customers, potentially leading to brand reputation damage, customer confusion, or even financial fraud through manipulated order confirmation emails. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of email template customization, which is critical for maintaining professional communication standards with customers. Organizations using this plugin without proper updates face potential exposure to unauthorized modifications that could go undetected for extended periods. The attack requires minimal sophistication and can be automated, making it particularly dangerous for environments where administrators may not immediately notice unauthorized changes to email content. Additionally, the vulnerability creates potential for chaining attacks where compromised email templates could serve as entry points for further exploitation or as vehicles for delivering malicious content to end users. Organizations should implement immediate patching strategies and monitor their systems for unauthorized modifications to email templates, while also reviewing their overall security posture to prevent similar vulnerabilities in other plugins or custom applications.