CVE-2022-4151 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A SQL Injection vulnerability has been discovered in the Contest Gallery WordPress plugin and Contest Gallery Pro WordPress plugin, allowing malicious users to extract sensitive information from the site's database. This CVE, assigned by WPScan, affects versions prior to 19.1.5.1.

Understanding CVE-2022-4151

This section delves into the details of the vulnerability, its impact, technical description, affected systems, exploitation mechanism, and mitigation strategies.

What is CVE-2022-4151?

The Contest Gallery WordPress plugin and Contest Gallery Pro WordPress plugin versions prior to 19.1.5.1 are vulnerable to SQL Injection due to improper handling of the option_id GET parameter, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data.

The Impact of CVE-2022-4151

Malicious users with at least author privileges can exploit this vulnerability to leak confidential information from the site's database, posing a significant risk to data confidentiality and integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-4151

Let's explore the specific technical aspects of this vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The SQL Injection vulnerability arises from the lack of proper escaping of the option_id GET parameter in export-images-data.php, enabling attackers to manipulate SQL queries and access restricted database information.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected products include Contest Gallery and Contest Gallery Pro plugins with versions lower than 19.1.5.1, leaving websites using these versions susceptible to exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the SQL Injection flaw, attackers with author-level permissions can craft malicious requests containing SQL code to extract sensitive data from the site's backend database.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here's how website owners and administrators can mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2022-4151.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Contest Gallery and Contest Gallery Pro plugins to version 19.1.5.1 or newer to remediate the SQL Injection vulnerability.
Regularly monitor for unusual activities or unauthorized access to sensitive data on the website.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to sanitize and validate user inputs to prevent SQL Injection and other common web vulnerabilities.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and address potential security weaknesses proactively.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates and patches released by plugin developers and promptly apply them to ensure the website's protection against known vulnerabilities.