CVE-2022-4827 is a medium-severity vulnerability classified as a Stored Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) issue affecting the WP Tiles WordPress plugin up to version 1.1.2. The vulnerability arises because the plugin fails to properly validate and escape certain shortcode attributes before rendering them on pages or posts where the shortcode is embedded. This improper handling allows users with contributor-level privileges or higher to inject malicious scripts that are stored persistently and executed in the context of other users viewing the affected content. The vulnerability leverages CWE-79, which pertains to improper neutralization of input leading to XSS. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.4 (medium), with vector AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:N, indicating network attack vector, low attack complexity, privileges required at the contributor level, user interaction required, scope changed, and low impact on confidentiality and integrity, with no impact on availability. No known public exploits have been reported to date. The vulnerability is particularly relevant in multi-user WordPress environments where contributors can add content, as it can lead to session hijacking, defacement, or redirection attacks affecting site administrators or other users with higher privileges. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available or is pending release, emphasizing the need for mitigation through configuration or user role management.

For European organizations using WordPress sites with the WP Tiles plugin, this vulnerability poses a risk of persistent XSS attacks that can compromise the confidentiality and integrity of user sessions and site content. Attackers with contributor access could inject malicious scripts that execute in the browsers of administrators or editors, potentially leading to credential theft, unauthorized actions, or site defacement. This can damage organizational reputation, lead to data breaches, and disrupt business operations. Given the widespread use of WordPress in Europe for corporate websites, e-commerce, and public sector portals, exploitation could affect sensitive information and critical services. The scope change in the CVSS vector indicates that the vulnerability can impact resources beyond the initially compromised component, increasing the risk profile. Although the attack requires contributor-level access and user interaction, insider threats or compromised contributor accounts could facilitate exploitation. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the potential for targeted attacks, especially in sectors with high-value targets such as finance, government, and healthcare.

Restrict contributor role assignments strictly to trusted users and review existing contributor accounts for suspicious activity. Implement a robust content moderation workflow where posts from contributors are reviewed and sanitized before publication to prevent malicious shortcode attributes from being embedded. Use security plugins or Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) capable of detecting and blocking XSS payloads in user-generated content, specifically targeting shortcode inputs. Disable or remove the WP Tiles plugin if it is not essential, or replace it with alternative plugins that have been verified for secure coding practices. Regularly monitor WordPress plugin updates and subscribe to vendor or security mailing lists to apply patches promptly once available. Employ Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to restrict the execution of unauthorized scripts on affected sites, mitigating the impact of potential XSS exploitation. Conduct periodic security audits and penetration testing focusing on user input handling and shortcode processing to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities.