CVE-2022-4166 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Discover the impact and technical details of CVE-2022-4166, a critical SQL Injection vulnerability in Contest Gallery plugins, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive data.
A SQL Injection vulnerability, CVE-2022-4166, has been identified in the Contest Gallery WordPress plugin before version 19.1.5.1 and Contest Gallery Pro WordPress plugin before version 19.1.5.1. This security flaw could allow unauthorized users to access sensitive database information.
Understanding CVE-2022-4166
This section delves into the specifics of CVE-2022-4166.
What is CVE-2022-4166?
The Contest Gallery plugins, specifically versions prior to 19.1.5.1, are susceptible to a SQL Injection flaw. This vulnerability arises due to insufficient sanitization of user input, potentially leading to data leakage from the database.
The Impact of CVE-2022-4166
The impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables malicious users with author privileges to exploit the SQL Injection vulnerability, resulting in unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in the site's database.
Technical Details of CVE-2022-4166
In this section, we discuss the technical aspects of CVE-2022-4166.
Vulnerability Description
The SQL Injection vulnerability in Contest Gallery plugins allows attackers to manipulate the addCountS POST parameter, leading to unauthorized extraction of sensitive data.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Vendor: Unknown
- Affected Products: Contest Gallery, Contest Gallery Pro
- Vulnerable Versions: Before 19.1.5.1
Exploitation Mechanism
Malicious actors with author privileges can exploit this vulnerability by injecting crafted SQL queries through the addCountS POST parameter, potentially compromising the site's database.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2022-4166, follow these key mitigation strategies.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Contest Gallery plugins to version 19.1.5.1 or later immediately.
- Restrict user privileges to minimize the impact of unauthorized access.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly monitor and audit user inputs to ensure proper sanitization.
- Educate developers on secure coding practices to prevent SQL Injection vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Keep Contest Gallery plugins up to date with the latest security patches and versions to mitigate the risk of SQL Injection attacks.