CVE-2022-3098 is a security vulnerability classified as CWE-352, which corresponds to Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), found in the WordPress plugin 'Login Block IPs' version 1.0.0. This plugin is designed to help administrators block IP addresses from logging into WordPress sites. The vulnerability arises because the plugin does not implement any CSRF protection when updating its settings. As a result, an attacker can craft a malicious request that, when executed by a logged-in administrator, causes the plugin's settings to be changed without the administrator's consent or knowledge. This attack requires the victim to be authenticated as an admin and to interact with the attacker's crafted content (e.g., visiting a malicious webpage). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 4.3 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is network-based, requires user interaction, and does not require privileges or authentication from the attacker, but does require the victim to be an authenticated admin user. The impact is limited to integrity, as the attacker can alter plugin settings, potentially weakening security controls or blocking/unblocking IPs maliciously. There is no known exploit in the wild, and no official patch links are provided in the data, indicating that remediation may require manual intervention or plugin updates from the vendor. The vulnerability is specific to version 1.0.0 of the plugin, and the absence of CSRF tokens or similar protections is the root cause.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the 'Login Block IPs' plugin version 1.0.0, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk. If an attacker can lure an authenticated admin to a malicious site, they could manipulate the plugin's settings, potentially disabling IP blocks or adding malicious IPs to the blocklist. This could lead to unauthorized access attempts going unchecked or legitimate users being blocked, disrupting business operations or security monitoring. While the vulnerability does not directly expose sensitive data or cause denial of service, the integrity compromise could facilitate further attacks or reduce the effectiveness of existing security measures. Organizations with high-value WordPress sites, such as e-commerce, government portals, or critical infrastructure, may find this risk more significant. The requirement for an authenticated admin user and user interaction limits the attack surface but does not eliminate the threat, especially in environments where phishing or social engineering is prevalent.

1. Immediately update the 'Login Block IPs' plugin to a version that includes CSRF protections if available. If no update exists, consider disabling or uninstalling the plugin until a fix is released. 2. Implement strict Content Security Policy (CSP) headers and SameSite cookie attributes to reduce the risk of CSRF attacks. 3. Educate administrators about phishing and social engineering risks to prevent inadvertent execution of malicious requests. 4. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for WordPress admin accounts to reduce the risk of compromised credentials. 5. Regularly audit plugin settings and logs for unauthorized changes to detect exploitation attempts early. 6. Consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) that can detect and block CSRF attack patterns targeting administrative interfaces. 7. Monitor WordPress plugin repositories and security advisories for updates or patches addressing this vulnerability.