CVE-2022-2413 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability identified in the Slide Anything WordPress plugin versions prior to 2.3.47. The vulnerability arises because the plugin does not properly sanitize or escape the slide title before rendering it on the WordPress admin pages. This flaw allows a logged-in user with a minimum role of Author to inject malicious JavaScript code into the slide title. Notably, this exploitation is possible even when the WordPress 'unfiltered_html' capability is disabled, which typically restricts users from posting unfiltered HTML content. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79, indicating improper neutralization of input during web page generation. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium severity), with vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N, meaning the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges (Author role), and user interaction (an admin or other user viewing the malicious slide title) is needed. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality and integrity of the WordPress admin environment by allowing script execution that could lead to session hijacking, privilege escalation, or further attacks within the admin interface. There are no known exploits in the wild as of the publication date, and no official patch links were provided in the source data. The vulnerability affects the Slide Anything plugin, which is used to create sliders and carousels on WordPress sites, often for marketing or content display purposes.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the Slide Anything plugin, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk. Since exploitation requires at least Author-level access, the threat is more significant in environments where multiple users have such roles, including content creators or editors. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript in the admin interface, potentially leading to session hijacking of higher-privileged users (e.g., administrators), unauthorized content modification, or deployment of further attacks such as malware distribution or phishing. This could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the website and its administrative functions. For organizations in sectors with strict data protection regulations like GDPR, any compromise of administrative access or data leakage could result in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, if the WordPress site is used for customer interaction or e-commerce, the impact could extend to customer trust and business continuity. The medium CVSS score reflects that while the vulnerability is not trivially exploitable by unauthenticated users, the low privilege requirement and potential for privilege escalation make it a relevant threat.

1. Immediate upgrade of the Slide Anything plugin to version 2.3.47 or later, where the vulnerability is fixed, is the most effective mitigation. 2. Restrict the assignment of Author or higher roles to trusted users only, minimizing the number of users who can exploit this vulnerability. 3. Implement strict monitoring and logging of user activities within the WordPress admin dashboard to detect suspicious behavior such as unexpected slide title changes or script injections. 4. Use Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules designed to detect and block reflected or stored XSS payloads targeting WordPress admin pages. 5. Regularly audit installed plugins for updates and vulnerabilities, and consider removing unused or unmaintained plugins to reduce the attack surface. 6. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts in the admin interface, limiting the impact of any injected JavaScript. 7. Educate content authors and editors about security best practices and the risks of injecting untrusted content, even within administrative roles.