CVE-2022-38135 : What You Need to Know

A comprehensive overview of the Broken Access Control vulnerability in Dean Oakley's Photospace Gallery plugin affecting WordPress versions up to 2.3.5.

Understanding CVE-2022-38135

This section delves into the details of the vulnerability, its impact, technical aspects, and ways to mitigate the risk.

What is CVE-2022-38135?

CVE-2022-38135 is a Broken Access Control vulnerability in Dean Oakley's Photospace Gallery plugin version <= 2.3.5 for WordPress. It allows users with subscriber or higher roles to modify plugin settings.

The Impact of CVE-2022-38135

The vulnerability poses a medium severity risk with a base score of 5.4 according to the CVSS v3.1 metrics. It could lead to unauthorized changes in plugin settings by lower-role users.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-38135

In this section, we explore the specifics of the vulnerability including its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanisms.

Vulnerability Description

The Broken Access Control vulnerability in the Photospace Gallery plugin allows users with subscriber or higher privileges to make changes in the plugin settings, potentially compromising the website's security.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects Photospace Gallery plugin versions <= 2.3.5 when integrated with WordPress installations.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this vulnerability involves users with restricted roles gaining access to settings that should be limited to administrators only.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section covers the necessary steps to mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2022-38135 and prevent potential exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website owners should consider updating the Photospace Gallery plugin to a secure version beyond 2.3.5 to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, restricting user permissions and monitoring changes in plugin settings are recommended.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing the principle of least privilege, regular security audits, and keeping plugins updated are essential for long-term security enhancement.

Patching and Updates

Ensuring prompt installation of security patches released by the plugin vendor is crucial to protect the website from potential exploits.