CVE-2022-3374 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting the Ocean Extra WordPress plugin versions before 2.0.5. The core issue is the unsafe deserialization of untrusted data, specifically when a high-privilege user imports a malicious Customizer Styling file. The plugin unserializes the content of this imported file without sufficient validation or sanitization, which can lead to PHP object injection attacks. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-502, which involves deserialization of untrusted data. Exploiting this flaw requires a high-privilege user to perform the import action, but does not require user interaction beyond that. If a suitable gadget chain exists within the WordPress environment or other installed plugins/themes, an attacker can execute arbitrary PHP code, leading to full compromise of the WordPress site. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.2, reflecting network attack vector, low attack complexity, high privileges required, no user interaction, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No known public exploits have been reported yet, but the vulnerability presents a significant risk due to the potential for remote code execution and site takeover.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the Ocean Extra plugin, this vulnerability poses a critical risk. Successful exploitation could lead to complete site compromise, including unauthorized data access, defacement, or use of the site as a pivot point for further attacks within the network. Given the high privileges required, the threat is mainly from insider threats or compromised administrator accounts. However, if an attacker can socially engineer or otherwise gain access to a high-privilege user account, the impact is severe. This could affect confidentiality of sensitive data, integrity of website content, and availability of services. Organizations in sectors such as e-commerce, government, healthcare, and media, which rely heavily on WordPress for public-facing websites, could suffer reputational damage and regulatory penalties under GDPR if personal data is exposed. The lack of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate it, as weaponization could occur at any time.

European organizations should immediately verify if they use the Ocean Extra plugin and check the version. Upgrading to version 2.0.5 or later, where the vulnerability is patched, is the primary mitigation. If upgrading is not immediately possible, restrict import functionality to only fully trusted administrators and implement strict access controls on who can upload Customizer Styling files. Additionally, monitor logs for unusual import activities and consider disabling the import feature temporarily. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious serialized payloads targeting this plugin. Regularly audit user privileges to minimize the number of high-privilege users. Finally, maintain regular backups and have an incident response plan ready to quickly recover from any compromise.