CVE-2022-4776 in CC Child Pages Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 01/30/2023
The CC Child Pages WordPress plugin before 1.43 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 • 03/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-4776 resides within the CC Child Pages WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.43. This issue represents a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of WordPress sites relying on this plugin for managing child page structures. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and output escaping mechanisms within the plugin's shortcode processing functionality, creating a pathway for malicious actors to inject persistent malicious scripts into website content.
The technical flaw manifests in the plugin's failure to properly sanitize shortcode attributes before rendering them back to users within the web page output. When contributors or users with lower privileges create or modify content using the CC Child Pages plugin, they can inject malicious JavaScript code through the shortcode parameters. This code then gets stored within the WordPress database and subsequently executed whenever the page is rendered to other users, including administrators with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the plugin's shortcode attribute handling, where user-supplied input flows directly into HTML output without proper sanitization or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this stored cross-site scripting vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or defacement. High-privilege users such as administrators who view pages containing the malicious code become potential victims of session hijacking, credential theft, or further exploitation through privilege escalation techniques. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts that persist across user sessions and can be triggered by any user visiting affected pages. The low privilege requirement means that even users with minimal permissions can potentially compromise the entire site's security posture, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where contributors may have access to content management features.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes improper neutralization of input during web page generation, specifically addressing stored cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The attack pattern follows typical ATT&CK techniques categorized under T1566 for credential access and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers can establish persistent access through malicious code execution. Organizations using the CC Child Pages plugin must urgently implement mitigation strategies including immediate plugin updates to version 1.43 or later, which addresses the input validation and output escaping deficiencies. Additional defensive measures should include restricting contributor privileges where possible, implementing content security policies, and conducting thorough security audits of all installed plugins to identify similar vulnerabilities. Regular monitoring of plugin repositories and maintaining updated security patches remain essential practices for preventing exploitation of such vulnerabilities in WordPress environments.