CVE-2022-2943 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified as CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, commonly known as Path Traversal) affecting the WordPress Infinite Scroll – Ajax Load More plugin developed by connekthq. This vulnerability exists in versions up to and including 5.5.3 of the plugin. The root cause is insufficient validation of file paths in the alm_repeaters_export() function, which allows an authenticated attacker with administrative privileges to perform arbitrary file reading on the server hosting the WordPress site. Specifically, the attacker can craft requests that bypass directory restrictions and access sensitive files such as wp-config.php, which typically contains database credentials and other critical configuration data. The vulnerability requires administrative privileges, meaning the attacker must already have a high level of access to exploit it. The CVSS v3.1 score is 4.9, indicating a medium severity level, with the vector indicating network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), high privileges required (PR:H), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), no integrity impact (I:N), and no availability impact (A:N). There are no known exploits in the wild as of the published date, and no official patches linked in the provided data. The vulnerability is significant because it can lead to disclosure of sensitive server-side files, potentially enabling further attacks or data breaches if exploited. Since the vulnerability requires administrative access, it is most relevant in scenarios where an attacker has already compromised or gained elevated access to the WordPress environment, or where insider threats exist. The plugin is widely used in WordPress sites to enable infinite scrolling and AJAX-based content loading, making it a common target for attackers seeking to leverage plugin vulnerabilities to escalate their access or extract sensitive information.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the Infinite Scroll – Ajax Load More plugin, this vulnerability poses a risk of sensitive data exposure, particularly of configuration files that may contain database credentials, API keys, or other secrets. Exposure of such information can lead to further compromise of the website, including data breaches, defacement, or pivoting to internal networks. Since the vulnerability requires administrative privileges, the immediate risk is somewhat mitigated by the need for prior access; however, in environments where administrative credentials are shared, weakly protected, or where insider threats exist, the risk increases. European organizations in sectors such as government, finance, healthcare, and e-commerce that rely on WordPress for public-facing or internal portals could face reputational damage, regulatory penalties under GDPR for data breaches, and operational disruptions if attackers leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information. Additionally, the lack of known exploits in the wild suggests the vulnerability is not yet widely weaponized, but the presence of a publicly known CVE means attackers may develop exploits, increasing future risk. The medium severity rating reflects the balance between the high confidentiality impact and the requirement for administrative privileges, but organizations should not underestimate the potential consequences of sensitive file disclosure.

1. Immediate mitigation involves updating the Infinite Scroll – Ajax Load More plugin to the latest version where this vulnerability is patched. If no official patch is available, consider disabling or removing the plugin until a fix is released. 2. Restrict administrative access to WordPress dashboards strictly, employing strong authentication mechanisms such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of credential compromise. 3. Implement strict file system permissions on the server to limit the web server user’s ability to read sensitive files like wp-config.php, reducing the impact of arbitrary file read vulnerabilities. 4. Monitor WordPress logs and server access logs for unusual activity, especially requests targeting the alm_repeaters_export() function or attempts to access sensitive files. 5. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block path traversal attempts or suspicious requests targeting the vulnerable plugin endpoints. 6. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability scans on WordPress installations and plugins to identify outdated or vulnerable components proactively. 7. Educate administrators and developers about the risks of excessive privileges and the importance of plugin hygiene, including timely updates and vetting of third-party plugins. 8. Consider isolating WordPress instances in segmented network zones to limit lateral movement if a compromise occurs.