CVE-2022-4488 : Security Advisory and Response

A detailed article on the Widgets on Pages < 1.8.0 - Contributor+ Stored XSS vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2022-4488

This section provides an overview of the CVE-2022-4488 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2022-4488?

The Widgets on Pages WordPress plugin before version 1.8.0 is vulnerable to Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks. This vulnerability arises due to a lack of validation and escaping of shortcode attributes.

The Impact of CVE-2022-4488

This vulnerability allows users with roles as low as contributors to execute XSS attacks, posing a risk to high privilege users like admins.

Technical Details of CVE-2022-4488

Explore the technical aspects of CVE-2022-4488 in this section.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Widgets on Pages < 1.8.0 enables attackers to inject malicious code through shortcode attributes, potentially compromising the security of the website.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected system is the Widgets on Pages WordPress plugin before version 1.8.0, with custom versions less than 1.8.0.

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by inputting malicious code in shortcode attributes via Contributor level access.

Mitigation and Prevention

Learn how to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2022-4488 vulnerability in this section.

Immediate Steps to Take

Website administrators should update the Widgets on Pages plugin to version 1.8.0 or higher to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices and conduct regular security audits to ensure the plugins used are free from vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay up-to-date with security patches and regularly update plugins to protect against known vulnerabilities.