CVE-2022-4670 : What You Need to Know

A stored XSS vulnerability was found in the PDF.js Viewer WordPress plugin prior to version 2.1.8, allowing contributors and higher roles to execute malicious scripts through shortcodes.

Understanding CVE-2022-4670

This section will delve into the specifics of CVE-2022-4670, shedding light on its implications and technical details.

What is CVE-2022-4670?

The PDF.js Viewer WordPress plugin, when used before version 2.1.8, fails to properly sanitize shortcode attributes. This oversight exposes websites to stored cross-site scripting attacks, enabling users with contributor privileges or higher to deploy malicious scripts.

The Impact of CVE-2022-4670

The vulnerability poses a severe risk as it allows attackers to inject and execute malicious code on websites, potentially compromising user data and system integrity.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-4670

This section will provide an in-depth analysis of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The PDF.js Viewer WordPress plugin version less than 2.1.8 does not validate and escape certain shortcode attributes, enabling contributors and above to inject malicious scripts through shortcodes, leading to stored XSS attacks.

Affected Systems and Versions

The issue impacts websites using the PDF.js Viewer plugin version prior to 2.1.8. Users of affected versions are at risk of exploitation by users with contributor privileges or higher.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers with contributor access or higher can insert crafted shortcodes containing malicious scripts. When rendered on a page/post, these scripts are executed in the context of the user viewing the content.

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we will discuss immediate actions to take and long-term security practices to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2022-4670.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade the PDF.js Viewer plugin to version 2.1.8 or later to patch the vulnerability and ensure shortcode attributes are properly sanitized.
Monitor for any suspicious activity and review user-contributed content for potentially malicious scripts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update plugins and themes to benefit from the latest security patches and enhancements.
Educate users on best practices to prevent XSS attacks, such as avoiding untrusted sources for code execution.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security disclosures and promptly apply patches released by plugin developers to safeguard your website against known vulnerabilities.