CVE-2022-2433 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the WordPress plugin 'Infinite Scroll – Ajax Load More' developed by connekthq. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-502, which involves deserialization of untrusted data. Specifically, the flaw exists in versions up to and including 5.5.3 of the plugin, where the 'alm_repeaters_export' parameter accepts serialized input that is not properly validated or sanitized. An attacker can exploit this by crafting a malicious serialized payload and tricking a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking a specially crafted link. This action triggers the deserialization process, which can lead to arbitrary PHP object instantiation and execution. The attack requires the attacker to have previously uploaded a file containing the serialized payload and to leverage a PHP Archive (PHAR) wrapper to invoke file calls. If a suitable Property Oriented Programming (POP) chain is present in the application, the attacker can execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable without authentication but requires user interaction (UI:R), specifically the administrator's involvement. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with network attack vector and low attack complexity. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date. No official patches are linked in the provided data, so mitigation may require plugin updates or manual code fixes. This vulnerability highlights the risks of insecure deserialization in web applications, especially in widely used CMS plugins that handle dynamic content loading.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for those relying on WordPress websites with the Infinite Scroll – Ajax Load More plugin installed. Successful exploitation can lead to remote code execution, allowing attackers to compromise website integrity, steal sensitive data, deface websites, or use compromised servers as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks. This can result in data breaches affecting personal data protected under GDPR, leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Additionally, availability impacts could disrupt e-commerce platforms or public-facing services, causing financial losses and customer trust erosion. The requirement for administrator interaction means social engineering or phishing campaigns may be used to facilitate exploitation, increasing the threat vector. Given the widespread use of WordPress across European businesses, media, and government websites, the potential for targeted attacks exploiting this vulnerability is considerable. Organizations in sectors with high-value data or critical web infrastructure are particularly at risk.

Organizations should immediately verify if their WordPress installations use the Infinite Scroll – Ajax Load More plugin at or below version 5.5.3. If so, they should upgrade to the latest plugin version where the vulnerability is patched. In the absence of an official patch, consider disabling or removing the plugin until a fix is available. Implement strict file upload controls to prevent unauthorized file uploads that could contain malicious serialized payloads. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules to detect and block suspicious serialized data patterns or PHAR wrapper usage. Educate administrators about phishing and social engineering risks to reduce the chance of inadvertent interaction with malicious links. Monitor web server and application logs for unusual deserialization activity or unexpected file accesses. Additionally, conduct code audits for other plugins or custom code that may deserialize untrusted data. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers and disable PHP functions that are not essential and could be leveraged in POP chains. Regularly back up website data and configurations to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise.