CVE-2022-3335 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Kadence WooCommerce Email Designer WordPress plugin versions prior to 1.5.7. The vulnerability stems from unsafe deserialization of untrusted data (CWE-502) when an administrator imports a file into the plugin. Specifically, the plugin unserializes the content of the imported file without sufficient validation or sanitization. This unsafe deserialization can lead to PHP object injection attacks if a maliciously crafted file is imported and a suitable gadget chain exists within the WordPress environment. Such gadget chains enable attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code, potentially leading to full compromise of the affected WordPress site. The vulnerability requires administrative privileges to exploit, meaning an attacker must have or gain admin access to import the malicious file. No user interaction beyond the import action is needed. The CVSS v3.1 score of 7.2 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with network attack vector, low attack complexity, and no user interaction required. Although no known exploits in the wild have been reported, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for remote code execution and site takeover. The Kadence WooCommerce Email Designer plugin is used to customize WooCommerce transactional emails, and its presence on e-commerce WordPress sites makes it a valuable target for attackers seeking to compromise online stores or steal sensitive customer data.

For European organizations, this vulnerability could have severe consequences, particularly for e-commerce businesses relying on WooCommerce and the Kadence Email Designer plugin. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, allowing attackers to manipulate website content, steal customer data including payment information, or deploy malware such as ransomware. This could result in financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties under GDPR due to data breaches. The compromise of administrative accounts or the website backend could also disrupt business operations and customer communications. Given the widespread use of WooCommerce in Europe and the critical role of email communications in customer engagement, the impact extends beyond technical damage to affect business continuity and customer trust.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should immediately update the Kadence WooCommerce Email Designer plugin to version 1.5.7 or later, where the unsafe deserialization issue has been addressed. Administrators should audit and restrict who has import privileges to minimize the risk of malicious file imports. Implementing strict file validation and sanitization controls on imported files is critical. Additionally, organizations should monitor logs for suspicious import activities and consider deploying Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with rules targeting PHP object injection patterns. Regular backups and incident response plans should be in place to recover quickly from potential compromises. Limiting plugin usage to only trusted and necessary plugins reduces the attack surface. Finally, educating administrators about the risks of importing files from untrusted sources can prevent accidental exploitation.