CVE-2022-3357
Published: 31 October 2022
Summary
CVE-2022-3357 is a high-severity Deserialization of Untrusted Data (CWE-502) vulnerability in Nextendweb Smart Slider 3. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, ranked in the top 3.5% 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 Smart Slider 3 WordPress plugin before version 3.5.1.11 is affected by a PHP object injection vulnerability arising from unsafe deserialization of the contents of an imported file. The issue is tracked as CVE-2022-3357 with CWE-502 and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 reflecting network attack vector, low complexity, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
An authenticated user can exploit the flaw by importing a malicious file, intentionally or otherwise; successful exploitation requires a suitable gadget chain to be present on the site and can result in arbitrary PHP object injection leading to full compromise of the affected WordPress installation.
Advisories published by WPScan at the referenced URLs confirm the affected versions and the conditions under which the deserialization occurs. The EPSS score has remained essentially flat, with a current value of 0.2711 against a recorded peak of 0.2773.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2022-42741
Vulnerability details
The Smart Slider 3 WordPress plugin before 3.5.1.11 unserialises the content of an imported file, which could lead to PHP object injection issues when a user import (intentionally or not) a malicious file, and a suitable gadget chain is present…
more
on the site.
- 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.
Penetration testing supplies malicious serialized objects, detecting unsafe deserialization and supporting corrective actions.
Evaluation of untrusted data handling (deserialization testing) reveals unsafe processing, which the required remediation process addresses.
Untrusted serialized data can be deserialized and observed inside the chamber, blocking gadget-chain exploitation outside the sandbox.
Validates or rejects untrusted serialized data before deserialization occurs.
Identifies and blocks malicious code introduced through deserialization of untrusted data at system boundaries.
Integrity verification of serialized information can detect tampering before deserialization occurs.
Provenance of associated data allows detection of untrusted sources before deserialization or processing occurs.