CVE-2022-47446 in Viadat Creations Store Locator with Google Maps Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 05/24/2023
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Viadat Creations Store Locator for WordPress with Google Maps – LotsOfLocales plugin <= 3.98.7 versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/17/2023
The CVE-2022-47446 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in the Viadat Creations Store Locator for WordPress with Google Maps plugin, specifically affecting versions up to and including 3.98.7. This vulnerability resides within the WordPress ecosystem and exploits the fundamental trust relationship between web browsers and servers, allowing malicious actors to execute unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users. The plugin's failure to implement proper CSRF protection mechanisms creates a significant security risk for WordPress sites that rely on its functionality for location-based services and store directory management.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of anti-CSRF tokens or similar validation mechanisms in the plugin's administrative interfaces and API endpoints. When administrators or authenticated users interact with the plugin's features, the application fails to verify that requests originate from legitimate sources within the same session. This design flaw aligns with CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery vulnerabilities as weaknesses that permit unauthorized commands to be executed on behalf of authenticated users. The vulnerability specifically impacts the plugin's administrative functionality, where users can modify store locations, update maps, and manage directory listings through web forms and AJAX requests that lack proper origin validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to potentially compromise entire WordPress installations through lateral movement and privilege escalation. An attacker could leverage this flaw to add malicious stores to the directory, modify existing location data, or potentially inject harmful scripts into the map display functionality. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the plugin integrates with Google Maps services, which could provide additional attack vectors through the manipulation of geolocation data or the injection of malicious map overlays. This vulnerability enables attackers to perform unauthorized administrative actions without requiring credentials, making it particularly dangerous for sites where multiple administrators have access or where the plugin is used in conjunction with other vulnerable components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-47446 should prioritize immediate plugin version updates to the latest available release, as developers typically address such vulnerabilities through the implementation of proper CSRF token validation and session management. Organizations should implement additional defensive measures including the enforcement of Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, regular security audits of WordPress plugins and themes, and monitoring for suspicious administrative activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of adhering to security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1078 which covers valid accounts and credential access. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls and restricting administrative access to trusted IP ranges to minimize the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular vulnerability scanning and security assessments of WordPress installations remain crucial for identifying similar weaknesses in other plugins or themes that may not yet have been patched.