CVE-2022-1456 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This article discusses the details of CVE-2022-1456, a vulnerability found in the Poll Maker WordPress plugin before version 4.0.2 that could lead to a Stored Cross-Site Scripting attack by high privilege users.

Understanding CVE-2022-1456

This section provides insights into the nature and impact of the CVE-2022-1456 vulnerability associated with the Poll Maker WordPress plugin.

What is CVE-2022-1456?

The Poll Maker WordPress plugin version before 4.0.2 contains a vulnerability that allows high privilege users, such as admins, to execute a Stored Cross-Site Scripting attack even when unfiltered_html is disallowed.

The Impact of CVE-2022-1456

The vulnerability in Poll Maker plugin can be exploited by malicious actors to inject and execute arbitrary scripts, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft on the affected WordPress sites.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-1456

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE-2022-1456 vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Poll Maker plugin stems from inadequate sanitization and escaping of certain settings, enabling attackers to insert malicious scripts into the site's content.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability impacts Poll Maker plugin versions prior to 4.0.2, leaving websites using these versions exposed to the risk of a Stored Cross-Site Scripting attack.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the vulnerability, threat actors with high privileges on the WordPress site can embed harmful scripts within the plugin's settings, leading to the execution of malicious code when accessed by other users.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we cover the necessary steps to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2022-1456 and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators are advised to update the Poll Maker plugin to version 4.0.2 or newer to patch the vulnerability and protect their sites from potential Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing strict input validation and output sanitization practices can enhance the overall security posture of WordPress sites and reduce the likelihood of similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Regularly monitoring for security updates and promptly applying patches provided by plugin developers is crucial in maintaining the security of WordPress plugins and safeguarding against known vulnerabilities.