CVE-2022-1628 : Security Advisory and Response

A detailed overview of the Simple SEO plugin vulnerability affecting WordPress websites.

Understanding CVE-2022-1628

This CVE involves a vulnerability in the Simple SEO plugin for WordPress that allows authenticated users to execute cross-site scripting attacks.

What is CVE-2022-1628?

The Simple SEO plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to attribute-based stored Cross-Site Scripting in versions up to, and including 1.7.91. This arises due to insufficient sanitization or escaping on the SEO social and standard title parameters.

The Impact of CVE-2022-1628

The vulnerability allows authenticated users with Contributor and above permissions to inject arbitrary web scripts into posts/pages that execute whenever an administrator accesses the page.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-1628

Details about the vulnerability, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Simple SEO plugin allows attackers to perform attribute-based stored Cross-Site Scripting.

Affected Systems and Versions

Versions up to and including 1.7.91 of the Simple SEO plugin are vulnerable to this exploit.

Exploitation Mechanism

Authenticated users with Contributor and above permissions can inject malicious scripts into posts/pages.

Mitigation and Prevention

Measures to mitigate the risk and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

To mitigate the risk, users should update the Simple SEO plugin to a secure version and sanitize user inputs.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security audits and ensure all plugins are kept up to date to prevent future vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for the Simple SEO plugin and apply patches promptly to secure your WordPress site.