---

Hello everyone! Today, we'll be discussing a new vulnerability that has been recently discovered and assigned CVE identifier CVE-2022-44628. This vulnerability is an Authenticated (admin+) Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) in the JumpDEMAND Inc. 4ECPS Web Forms plugin (version <= .2.17) on WordPress. We will cover all the essential details, including the exploit and how it can affect your WordPress website. We'll also provide code snippets and links to the original references for a better understanding of the issue.

I. Vulnerability Overview

CVE-2022-44628 is a Stored XSS vulnerability in the 4ECPS Web Forms plugin for WordPress. This issue can be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript code within the administrator's browser context, leading to a complete takeover of the affected site.

Stored XSS vulnerabilities occur when untrusted user input is stored by a web application (in this case, the 4ECPS Web Forms plugin on WordPress) and later displayed without proper sanitization and escaping, allowing an attacker to inject malicious JavaScript code into the vulnerable application.

II. Vulnerable Plugin Details

Plugin Name: 4ECPS Web Forms
Plugin Author: JumpDEMAND Inc.
Plugin Version: <= .2.17 (vulnerable)
URL: https://wordpress.org/plugins/4ecps-web-forms/
Description: The 4ECPS Web Forms plugin is designed to help Eye Care Professionals (ECPs) manage their web forms, including appointment booking, contact forms, and prescription refills.

III. Exploit Details

To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker with administrative or other high-level privileges on the target WordPress site must submit malicious JavaScript code through a vulnerable field in the plugin's settings page. The code will then be stored and executed whenever an administrator visits the affected page.

*Code Snippet:*

<script>alert("XSS payload");</script>

This simple payload will trigger a JavaScript alert with the message "XSS payload" when the stored XSS payload is executed in the administrator's browser. In a real attack, however, the payload could be much more complex and harmful.

IV. Original References

1. CVE-2022-44628: MITRE's official page for the vulnerability, providing a high-level description.
2. Plugin Security Advisory - 4ECPS Web Forms (WordPress Plugin): WPScan's vulnerability database entry, offering a technical description, affected plugin versions, and release notes for the fixed version.
3. Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) - OWASP: The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) provides a comprehensive explanation of stored XSS attacks and their potential impact.

Limit administrator-level access to only trusted users and enforce strong password policies.

3. Consider using security plugins to help monitor and protect your site against known vulnerabilities, such as Wordfence Security or iThemes Security.

In conclusion, CVE-2022-44628 is a critical vulnerability that can allow an attacker to execute arbitrary JavaScript code on an affected WordPress administrator's browser, potentially leading to a complete site takeover. It is vital to keep your plugins updated and implement strong security measures to protect your website and maintain the trust of your users.

Timeline

Published on: 11/03/2022 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/04/2022 15:10:00 UTC