CVE-2022-0439
Published: 07 March 2022
Summary
CVE-2022-0439 is a high-severity SQL Injection (CWE-89) vulnerability in Icegram Email Subscribers \& Newsletters. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 4.3% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
Deeper analysis
The Email Subscribers & Newsletters WordPress plugin before version 5.3.2 contains a blind SQL injection vulnerability in the ajax_fetch_report_list action. The order and orderby parameters are not properly escaped before being included in SQL queries. The same action also lacks any CSRF protection. The affected component is a widely used newsletter and subscriber management plugin running on WordPress sites.
An attacker with Subscriber-level access can supply crafted values for the order and orderby parameters to extract or modify database contents. Because the action has no CSRF token, an attacker can also induce any logged-in user to trigger the vulnerable request simply by clicking a malicious link, elevating the practical impact to high confidentiality, integrity, and availability consequences as reflected in the CVSS 8.8 score.
The referenced WPScan advisory identifies the flaw and notes that the issue is resolved in plugin version 5.3.2. The EPSS score rose from low values after disclosure to a peak of 0.3863 before receding to the current 0.2024, indicating measurable post-disclosure exploitation interest.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-15578
Vulnerability details
The Email Subscribers & Newsletters WordPress plugin before 5.3.2 does not correctly escape the `order` and `orderby` parameters to the `ajax_fetch_report_list` action, making it vulnerable to blind SQL injection attacks by users with roles as low as Subscriber. Further, it…
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does not have any CSRF protection in place for the action, allowing an attacker to trick any logged in user to perform the action by clicking a link.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Likely Mitigating Controls AI
Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.
Awareness training educates users on avoiding untrusted links and actions that can be exploited via CSRF.
Penetration testing uses SQL injection payloads against database interfaces, identifying and supporting fixes for SQL injection weaknesses.
Requiring user re-entry of credentials for sensitive actions prevents automated forgery of requests without active user participation.
Security testing regimens explicitly include checks for missing or ineffective anti-CSRF protections in web applications.
Validates query inputs to prevent SQL syntax or command manipulation.
Detects anomalous request patterns consistent with cross-site request forgery.