CVE-2022-3419 is a vulnerability identified in the WordPress plugin 'Automatic User Roles Switcher' prior to version 1.1.2. This plugin is designed to automatically assign user roles based on certain criteria. The vulnerability arises due to improper privilege management (CWE-269) combined with a lack of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protections (CWE-352). Specifically, the plugin does not enforce proper authorization checks or CSRF validation when changing user roles. As a result, any authenticated user, including those with minimal privileges such as subscribers, can exploit this flaw to escalate their privileges by assigning themselves higher roles, including administrator. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is network-based (remote), requires low attack complexity, and only requires privileges of a low-level authenticated user (PR:L). No user interaction is needed, and the impact is limited to integrity (I:H) with no confidentiality or availability impact. This vulnerability allows unauthorized privilege escalation within WordPress sites using the affected plugin versions, potentially leading to full site compromise if an attacker gains administrator rights. No known exploits in the wild have been reported as of the publication date. The vulnerability was published on October 31, 2022, and affects versions before 1.1.2 of the plugin. The lack of patch links suggests users should upgrade to version 1.1.2 or later where the issue is fixed.

For European organizations using WordPress websites with the Automatic User Roles Switcher plugin, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. An attacker with any authenticated account, even a subscriber or low-privilege user, can escalate their privileges to administrator level, gaining full control over the website. This can lead to unauthorized content modification, data tampering, insertion of malicious code, defacement, or use of the site as a launchpad for further attacks such as phishing or malware distribution. The integrity of the website and its data is severely compromised. Although confidentiality and availability impacts are not directly indicated, an attacker with admin privileges can potentially install backdoors or disrupt services, indirectly affecting availability and confidentiality. For organizations relying on WordPress for public-facing websites, e-commerce, or internal portals, this can damage reputation, lead to regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR if personal data is exposed), and cause financial losses. The medium CVSS score reflects the need for timely remediation but also indicates that exploitation requires an authenticated user account, which may limit the attack surface to some extent.

1. Immediate upgrade of the Automatic User Roles Switcher plugin to version 1.1.2 or later, where the vulnerability is patched. 2. Audit existing user accounts to identify and remove any unauthorized administrator accounts that may have been created exploiting this vulnerability. 3. Implement strict user registration and authentication policies to limit the creation of low-privilege accounts that could be leveraged for privilege escalation. 4. Employ Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) with custom rules to detect and block suspicious requests attempting to change user roles without proper authorization. 5. Regularly monitor WordPress logs for unusual privilege changes or user role modifications. 6. Educate site administrators on the importance of timely plugin updates and monitoring for security advisories. 7. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative accounts to reduce the risk of account compromise. 8. If feasible, restrict plugin usage or disable it if not essential, to reduce the attack surface. 9. Conduct periodic security assessments and penetration testing focused on privilege escalation vectors within WordPress environments.