CVE-2022-4775 in GeoDirectory Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/23/2023
The GeoDirectory WordPress plugin before 2.2.22 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 • 04/04/2025
The GeoDirectory WordPress plugin vulnerability CVE-2022-4775 represents a critical stored cross-site scripting flaw that exists in versions prior to 2.2.22. This vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode handling functionality. The flaw allows attackers with minimal privileges, specifically users possessing the contributor role, to inject malicious scripts that persist in the database and execute when other users view the affected content. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be exploited against high-privilege users such as administrators, making it a significant threat to WordPress site security. The issue manifests when the plugin fails to properly sanitize shortcode attributes before rendering them back to users, creating an attack vector that can be leveraged for session hijacking, credential theft, or other malicious activities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation in a web application. This weakness specifically involves the failure to properly escape or validate user-supplied data that is subsequently rendered in web pages. The vulnerability operates through a stored XSS mechanism where malicious payloads are first stored in the database via the plugin's shortcode processing and then executed when legitimate users access the affected pages. Attackers can craft shortcode attributes containing malicious JavaScript code that gets embedded into the page output, creating a persistent threat that affects any user who views the compromised content. The contributor role privilege escalation aspect means that even users who typically lack administrative capabilities can exploit this flaw to compromise higher-privilege accounts, making the attack surface significantly broader than initially apparent.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-4775 extends beyond simple script execution to encompass potential full system compromise when exploited against administrators. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can be used to steal admin sessions, modify content, or redirect users to malicious sites. Attackers can leverage this flaw to establish backdoors, exfiltrate sensitive data, or perform privilege escalation attacks that could lead to complete site takeover. The stored nature of the vulnerability means that once exploited, the malicious scripts remain active until manually removed, providing attackers with sustained access to the compromised system. This vulnerability particularly affects WordPress installations using the GeoDirectory plugin where contributor accounts exist, as these users can inject scripts that will execute in the context of admin sessions, creating a significant security risk for businesses and organizations relying on WordPress platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-4775 focus primarily on immediate plugin updates to version 2.2.22 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the input validation and output escaping deficiencies. Organizations should implement comprehensive security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish strict access controls for user roles to minimize the attack surface. The recommended approach includes restricting contributor privileges where possible and implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious script injection attempts. Security teams should also conduct thorough audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities and ensure that proper input validation and output escaping mechanisms are in place across all user-facing functionality. Additionally, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses that could be exploited in other components of the WordPress ecosystem, following the principles outlined in the ATT&CK framework for web application attacks and defensive measures.