CVE-2022-2449 is a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) vulnerability identified in the WordPress plugin 'reSmush.it: the only free Image Optimizer & compress plugin' prior to version 0.4.4. This plugin is designed to optimize and compress images on WordPress sites to improve performance and reduce bandwidth usage. The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to implement CSRF protections on its AJAX actions. Specifically, it does not verify the origin or authenticity of requests made to its AJAX endpoints, allowing an attacker to craft malicious web requests that can be executed by authenticated users without their consent. When a logged-in user visits a malicious website or clicks a crafted link, the attacker can leverage this flaw to perform unauthorized actions on the WordPress site with the privileges of the victim user. The vulnerability does not require the attacker to have prior authentication or elevated privileges, but it does require the victim to be logged into the WordPress site. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based, with low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary. The impact primarily affects integrity, as attackers can manipulate plugin functions or site content via forged requests, but confidentiality and availability impacts are not indicated. No known exploits in the wild have been reported, and no official patches or mitigation links were provided at the time of analysis. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-352, which is a common web application security weakness related to CSRF attacks. Given the widespread use of WordPress and the popularity of image optimization plugins, this vulnerability could be leveraged to alter site content or settings maliciously, potentially leading to defacement, unauthorized content changes, or other integrity violations.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the reSmush.it plugin (versions before 0.4.4), this vulnerability poses a moderate risk. Attackers can exploit the CSRF flaw to perform unauthorized actions on the website by tricking authenticated users into executing malicious requests. This can lead to unauthorized modification of image optimization settings, potential injection of malicious content, or disruption of normal site operations affecting the integrity of the website. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise confidentiality or availability, the integrity impact can damage organizational reputation, especially for e-commerce, government, or media websites that rely heavily on WordPress. Additionally, compromised sites could be used as vectors for further attacks or phishing campaigns targeting European users. The risk is heightened in environments where users have elevated privileges (e.g., administrators or editors) logged in simultaneously, increasing the scope of possible unauthorized actions. Given the plugin’s role in image optimization, attackers might also manipulate images to include malicious payloads or degrade site performance indirectly. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate the risk, especially as attackers often target popular CMS plugins. Organizations with public-facing WordPress sites should consider this vulnerability seriously to maintain site integrity and trust.

1. Immediate upgrade: Update the reSmush.it plugin to version 0.4.4 or later where the CSRF protections have been implemented. If an official patch is unavailable, consider temporarily disabling the plugin to prevent exploitation. 2. Implement Web Application Firewall (WAF) rules: Deploy WAF rules that detect and block suspicious CSRF attack patterns targeting AJAX endpoints of the plugin. 3. Enforce strict user session management: Limit the number of concurrent sessions and ensure users log out after inactivity to reduce the window of opportunity for CSRF attacks. 4. Use security plugins that add CSRF tokens: Employ WordPress security plugins that enforce CSRF tokens on AJAX requests globally, adding an additional layer of protection. 5. Educate users: Train site administrators and editors to avoid clicking suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites while logged into the WordPress admin panel. 6. Monitor logs: Regularly review web server and application logs for unusual POST requests to AJAX endpoints associated with the plugin to detect potential exploitation attempts. 7. Restrict plugin usage: Limit plugin activation to only necessary sites or user roles to minimize exposure. 8. Harden WordPress security: Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) headers and SameSite cookie attributes to reduce CSRF risks across the site.