CVE-2022-4482 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A detailed overview of the Carousel, Slider, Gallery by WP Carousel < 2.5.3 - Contributor+ Stored XSS vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2022-4482

This article discusses the impact, technical details, and mitigation strategies for the CVE-2022-4482 vulnerability in the Carousel, Slider, Gallery by WP Carousel plugin.

What is CVE-2022-4482?

The Carousel, Slider, Gallery by WP Carousel WordPress plugin before version 2.5.3 is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks, allowing users with contributor role to execute malicious scripts targeting high privilege users.

The Impact of CVE-2022-4482

The vulnerability poses a significant risk as it enables contributors to inject and execute malicious scripts within the plugin, potentially compromising the security and integrity of the WordPress site.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-4482

Below are the technical details associated with CVE-2022-4482:

Vulnerability Description

The plugin fails to properly validate and escape certain shortcode attributes before displaying them on the website, leading to the possibility of XSS attacks by contributors.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects versions of the Carousel, Slider, Gallery by WP Carousel plugin prior to version 2.5.3.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with contributor access can exploit this vulnerability by inserting crafted payload within specific shortcode attributes, allowing them to execute arbitrary scripts.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your WordPress site from CVE-2022-4482 with these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Carousel, Slider, Gallery by WP Carousel plugin to version 2.5.3 or later.
Restrict contributor access or review contributors' actions for suspicious behavior.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor and audit plugin code for security vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe practices to prevent XSS attacks.

Patching and Updates

Always promptly apply security patches and updates to WordPress plugins to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.