CVE-2022-2435 is a high-severity Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability affecting the AnyMind Widget plugin for WordPress, developed by mbeltwski. This vulnerability exists in all versions up to and including 1.1 of the plugin. The root cause is the absence of nonce protection on the createDOMStructure() function located in the ~/anymind-widget-id.php file. Nonce tokens are security mechanisms used in WordPress to verify that requests are intentionally made by authenticated users and to prevent unauthorized commands from being executed. Without this protection, an attacker can craft malicious web requests that, when an authenticated administrator is tricked into clicking a link or visiting a malicious page, cause the execution of unauthorized actions within the WordPress admin context. This can lead to injection of malicious scripts into the website, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected site. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8 reflects the high impact and ease of exploitation, as the attack vector is network-based, requires no privileges, but does require user interaction (an admin clicking a crafted link). The vulnerability allows for full compromise of the site’s administrative functions, enabling attackers to inject scripts that could lead to further attacks such as privilege escalation, data theft, or site defacement. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability’s characteristics make it a significant risk for WordPress sites using this plugin.

For European organizations using the AnyMind Widget plugin on their WordPress sites, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized administrative actions, including injection of malicious scripts that compromise user data, defacement of websites, or deployment of malware. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches involving personal or sensitive information protected under GDPR, and disrupt business operations. Given the plugin’s role in enhancing web functionality, compromised sites may also be used as vectors for broader attacks against customers or partners. The high CVSS score indicates that even unauthenticated attackers can exploit this vulnerability with minimal effort, increasing the likelihood of targeted or opportunistic attacks. European organizations with public-facing WordPress sites, especially those in sectors with strict data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and e-commerce, are particularly at risk. The lack of nonce protection means that standard WordPress security mechanisms are bypassed, making traditional defenses less effective without patching or mitigation.

1. Immediate update or patching: Organizations should verify if a patched version of the AnyMind Widget plugin is available and apply it promptly. If no patch exists, consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin until a fix is released. 2. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules: Deploy WAF rules that detect and block suspicious CSRF attempts targeting the vulnerable function or plugin endpoints. 3. Restrict administrative access: Limit WordPress admin access to trusted IP addresses or VPNs to reduce exposure to CSRF attacks. 4. User awareness and training: Educate administrators about the risks of clicking unknown or suspicious links, especially while logged into WordPress admin panels. 5. Monitor logs and site behavior: Implement monitoring to detect unusual administrative actions or script injections indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Harden WordPress security: Enforce multi-factor authentication for admin accounts and regularly audit installed plugins for vulnerabilities. 7. Use security plugins that add nonce verification or additional CSRF protections if patching is delayed. These steps collectively reduce the attack surface and mitigate the risk posed by this vulnerability beyond generic advice.