CVE-2022-3302 is a high-severity SQL Injection vulnerability (CWE-89) found in the WordPress plugin 'Spam protection, AntiSpam, FireWall by CleanTalk' in versions prior to 5.185.1. The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to properly validate or sanitize input IDs before incorporating them into SQL queries. This improper validation allows an attacker with high privileges, such as an administrator, to inject malicious SQL code. Exploiting this flaw could lead to unauthorized disclosure, modification, or deletion of data within the WordPress database, potentially compromising the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected website. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.2 reflects a high impact with network attack vector, low attack complexity, requiring high privileges but no user interaction. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk if an attacker gains administrative access, which is not uncommon in compromised WordPress environments. The vulnerability affects a widely used plugin designed to protect websites from spam and firewall threats, making it a critical component in many WordPress security setups. The lack of input validation in SQL queries is a classic and dangerous security flaw that can be leveraged for database takeover or privilege escalation within the application context.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could have serious consequences, especially for those relying on WordPress for their web presence and using the CleanTalk plugin for spam and firewall protection. Exploitation could lead to data breaches involving customer information, intellectual property, or internal communications, violating GDPR and other data protection regulations. The integrity of website content and availability could also be compromised, leading to reputational damage and operational disruption. Since the attack requires high privilege access, the initial compromise vector might be phishing or credential theft, which are common threats. Once exploited, attackers could manipulate database contents, inject malicious content, or disable security features, increasing the risk of further exploitation or lateral movement within the network. The impact is amplified for organizations in sectors like finance, healthcare, and government, where data sensitivity and regulatory compliance are paramount.

European organizations should immediately verify that their WordPress installations using the CleanTalk plugin are updated to version 5.185.1 or later, where this vulnerability is fixed. If immediate patching is not possible, restrict administrative access to trusted personnel only and enforce strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) to reduce the risk of privilege compromise. Conduct thorough audits of user privileges to ensure no unnecessary high-level access is granted. Implement Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns targeting the plugin's endpoints. Regularly monitor logs for unusual database queries or access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. Additionally, perform security assessments and penetration testing focusing on WordPress plugins and their database interactions. Backup website data frequently and verify the integrity of backups to enable rapid recovery in case of compromise. Educate administrators on phishing and credential security to prevent initial privilege escalation.