CVE-2022-4757 in List Pages Shortcode Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 02/27/2023
The List Pages Shortcode WordPress plugin before 1.7.6 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 • 03/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4757 affects the List Pages Shortcode WordPress plugin, specifically versions prior to 1.7.6, presenting a critical security risk through stored cross-site scripting exploitation. This flaw resides in the plugin's handling of shortcode attributes, where insufficient validation and escaping mechanisms allow malicious input to be persistently stored and subsequently executed within the context of other users' browsers. The vulnerability's severity is amplified by its accessibility to users with minimal privileges, including contributors who typically possess limited capabilities within WordPress environments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input sanitization within the plugin's shortcode processing logic. When users with contributor roles insert malicious payloads through shortcode attributes, these inputs are not adequately validated or escaped before being rendered back into the page content. This creates a persistent XSS vector where the malicious code becomes embedded within the plugin's output and executes whenever affected pages are viewed by other users, including administrators with elevated privileges. The flaw directly relates to CWE-79 which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as a result of insufficient input validation and output escaping.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it enables attackers to escalate privileges and compromise entire WordPress installations. High-privilege users such as administrators who view pages containing the malicious shortcode attributes become victims of persistent XSS attacks, potentially allowing attackers to steal session cookies, perform unauthorized actions, or redirect users to malicious domains. The stored nature of this vulnerability means that the malicious payloads remain active until manually removed from the database, providing attackers with sustained access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-4757 require immediate plugin updates to version 1.7.6 or later, which implements proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as content security policies, regular security audits of installed plugins, and monitoring for suspicious shortcode usage patterns. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1548.003 which involves the use of privilege escalation techniques through web application vulnerabilities. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify other potentially affected plugins and ensure that all WordPress installations maintain current security patches to prevent exploitation of similar weaknesses.