CVE-2022-1772 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Google Places Reviews WordPress plugin before version 2.0.0 allows malicious administrators to execute arbitrary code and potentially take over accounts.

Understanding CVE-2022-1772

This CVE entry describes a security issue in the Google Places Reviews plugin for WordPress, enabling admin-level XSS attacks.

What is CVE-2022-1772?

The vulnerability arises from improper escaping of the Google API key setting in the plugin, potentially leading to XSS attacks within a WordPress multisite configuration.

The Impact of CVE-2022-1772

Malicious administrators could exploit this bug to inject malicious scripts, tricking super-administrators into inadvertently executing harmful payloads and compromising their accounts.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-1772

The following technical aspects provide more insights into the security flaw:

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the Google Places Reviews plugin allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via the administration panel through XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

This vulnerability affects Google Places Reviews plugin versions prior to 2.0.0, leaving them exposed to potential XSS attacks.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the lack of proper input sanitization in the Google API key setting, malicious actors could craft payloads to exploit XSS on WordPress sites.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard against CVE-2022-1772, consider the following security measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Google Places Reviews plugin to version 2.0.0 or newer to eliminate the XSS vulnerability.
Regularly monitor site activity for any suspicious behavior indicating a potential breach.

Long-Term Security Practices

Educate administrators on safe coding practices to prevent XSS vulnerabilities in plugins.
Implement strict input validation and output encoding to mitigate XSS risks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates for all installed plugins and themes, promptly applying patches to address known vulnerabilities.