CVE-2022-42884 is a security vulnerability classified under CWE-862 (Missing Authorization) affecting the ThemeinProgress WIP Custom Login plugin, specifically versions up to 1.2.7. This vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to properly enforce authorization checks on certain functionality, allowing users with limited privileges (PR:L - privileges required: low) to perform actions they should not be authorized to execute. The vulnerability is remotely exploitable (AV:N - attack vector: network) without requiring user interaction (UI:N), and it impacts the integrity and availability of the affected system (I:L/A:L), but not confidentiality (C:N). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.4, indicating a medium severity level. The missing authorization flaw could allow an attacker with low-level privileges to manipulate or disrupt login-related processes, potentially leading to unauthorized changes or denial of service conditions. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, which suggests that mitigation may require manual intervention or monitoring for updates from the vendor. The vulnerability affects the WIP Custom Login plugin, which is used to customize login pages and workflows in WordPress environments, making it relevant primarily to websites using this plugin for authentication customization.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk primarily to websites and web applications utilizing the WIP Custom Login plugin. The impact includes potential unauthorized modification of login workflows or disruption of authentication services, which could lead to denial of service or integrity issues in user authentication processes. While confidentiality is not directly impacted, the integrity and availability concerns could affect user access and trust in affected services. Organizations relying on this plugin for customer-facing or internal portals may experience service interruptions or unauthorized changes that could degrade user experience or operational continuity. Given the medium severity and the requirement for low privileges to exploit, insider threats or compromised low-privilege accounts could leverage this vulnerability to escalate impact. European organizations with compliance obligations around service availability and integrity (e.g., GDPR requirements for data protection and service reliability) should consider this vulnerability significant enough to warrant timely mitigation.

To mitigate CVE-2022-42884, European organizations should first identify all instances of the WIP Custom Login plugin in their WordPress environments. Since no official patch links are currently available, organizations should: 1) Restrict access to the WordPress admin and login customization interfaces to trusted administrators only, minimizing the risk of low-privilege users exploiting the flaw. 2) Implement strict role-based access controls (RBAC) to ensure that users with low privileges cannot access or modify login-related settings. 3) Monitor logs for unusual activities related to login customization or authentication workflows that could indicate exploitation attempts. 4) Consider temporarily disabling or replacing the WIP Custom Login plugin with alternative, well-maintained plugins that enforce proper authorization checks until an official patch is released. 5) Stay updated with vendor communications and security advisories to apply patches promptly once available. 6) Conduct internal security reviews and penetration tests focusing on authorization controls around authentication plugins to detect similar weaknesses.