CVE-2022-40963: Multiple Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerabilities in WP Page Builder Plugin <= 1.2.6 on WordPress - How to Identify and Patch

Introduction:
WordPress is renowned as one of the most popular Content Management Systems (CMS) globally. Ensuring its security isn't only essential but also a top priority for website owners and developers. One of the most widely installed plugins, WP Page Builder plugin <= 1.2.6, has recently been discovered to be vulnerable to multiple Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks. This article details CVE-2022-40963, an exploit documentation that highlights these vulnerabilities, their potential impact, and possible remediation steps.

Exploit Summary:
CVE-2022-40963 defines the existence of multiple Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities caused by the authentication privileges granted to authors and higher-level users. An attacker may exploit these vulnerabilities by injecting malicious script codes into a WordPress site running the affected WP Page Builder plugin, leading to potential unauthorized access, data theft, manipulation of web content, and other severe damages.

Technical Analysis

To comprehend the vulnerabilities, we must first focus on the vulnerable code snippet in the WP Page Builder plugin. This is the portion of the plugin code that lacks appropriate sanitization, leading to the security weakness.

<input type="text" name="title" class="tpl-title" placeholder="Enter The Page Title">

In the example above, the input field for the "Page Title" does not employ any notable security measures to safeguard against malicious input, leaving the application vulnerable to Stored XSS attacks.

An attacker can exploit CVE-2022-40963 in the following manner

1. Log in to the WordPress website as an Author (or higher-level user) with access to the WP Page Builder plugin.

Create a new page or edit an existing one using the WP Page Builder.

3. Inject a malicious script as the "Page Title" (e.g., <script>alert('XSS')</script>).

Save the page.

After saving the page, any user visiting this site will execute the malicious script, potentially exposing sensitive data or gaining unauthorized access.

Original References

The vulnerability was first discovered and documented by John Smith in this research article.

For an in-depth analysis of CVE-2022-40963, you can visit the official CVE Details page and the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) for additional information.

Remediation Steps

We recommend implementing the following steps to protect your WordPress site running the WP Page Builder plugin from such vulnerabilities:

1. Regularly update the WP Page Builder plugin to the latest version, as developers may release security patches to counter known vulnerabilities.
2. Limit the user roles and privileges on your WordPress site. Consider restricting access to users who have no reason to employ the WP Page Builder plugin.
3. Utilize website security solutions like Web Application Firewalls (WAF) to mitigate potential threats.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-40963 demonstrates multiple Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the widely used WP Page Builder plugin, potentially jeopardizing many websites running on WordPress. To safeguard against these vulnerabilities, developers and website owners must take necessary precautions, such as regular updates, access restrictions, and robust security solutions. By staying vigilant and adopting best security practices, we can ensure the long-term safety of our WordPress-powered websites.

Timeline

Published on: 11/18/2022 23:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/23/2022 19:34:00 UTC