CVE-2022-4475 : What You Need to Know

A stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability has been discovered in the Collapse-O-Matic WordPress plugin, specifically affecting versions prior to 1.8.3. This vulnerability could allow attackers with lower roles, such as contributor, to execute XSS attacks against high privilege users like admin.

Understanding CVE-2022-4475

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2022-4475 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2022-4475?

The Collapse-O-Matic WordPress plugin, versions before 1.8.3, fails to properly validate and escape certain shortcode attributes before displaying them on the page. This oversight can be exploited by users with lower privileges to conduct Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks.

The Impact of CVE-2022-4475

The vulnerability poses a significant risk as it allows attackers with limited access to execute malicious scripts within the context of high privilege accounts, potentially leading to unauthorized actions or data theft.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-4475

In this section, we explore the technical aspects of the CVE-2022-4475 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in the Collapse-O-Matic plugin enables contributors to insert malicious scripts via unvalidated shortcode attributes, paving the way for XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Unknown
Product: Collapse-O-Matic
Versions Affected: Versions earlier than 1.8.3
Default Status: Unaffected
Additional Info: For more details, visit WordPress.org Plugins.

Exploitation Mechanism

By exploiting the lack of proper validation, contributors can leverage the vulnerability to execute XSS attacks, posing a threat to the security of WordPress sites.

Mitigation and Prevention

Here we discuss steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2022-4475.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update to the latest version of Collapse-O-Matic (1.8.3 or later) to address the vulnerability.
Monitor user activity to detect any suspicious behavior that might indicate an ongoing attack.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and review user permissions to limit unnecessary access levels.
Educate users on safe practices to prevent falling victim to XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security patches and updates released by the plugin developer to ensure your WordPress site is protected against known vulnerabilities.