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CVE Record

CVE-2022-2433: WordPress Infinite Scroll – Ajax Load More <= 5.5.3 - Cross-Site Request Forgery to PHAR Deserialization

The WordPress Infinite Scroll – Ajax Load More plugin for WordPress is vulnerable to deserialization of untrusted input via the 'alm_repeaters_export' parameter in versions up to, and including 5.5.3. This makes it possible for unauthenticated users to call files using a PHAR wrapper, granted they can trick a site administrator into performing an action such as clicking on a link, that will deserialize and call arbitrary PHP Objects that can be used to perform a variety of malicious actions granted a POP chain is also present. It also requires that the attacker is successful in uploading a file with the serialized payload.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This flaw affects the WordPress Ajax Load More plugin. An attacker cannot exploit it alone in a simple drive-by request, but could abuse an administrator’s browser action to trigger unsafe PHP object deserialization if other prerequisites are met. Successful exploitation could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Executive priority

Prioritize remediation for public WordPress sites using this plugin, especially business-critical or high-traffic sites. Treat as high priority, but not emergency-level based on the provided evidence because exploitation is complex and no active exploitation is cited.

Technical view

CVE-2022-2433 is CWE-502 deserialization of untrusted input through the alm_repeaters_export parameter in Ajax Load More versions up to 5.5.3. The described path involves CSRF, PHAR wrapper handling, an attacker-uploaded serialized payload, and a usable POP chain. The CVSS 3.1 score is 7.5 with high impact and high attack complexity.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on WordPress sites running Ajax Load More version 5.5.3 or earlier. The source bundle’s structured affected-version field appears incomplete, but the description explicitly names versions up to and including 5.5.3.

Exploitation context

The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or confirmed active exploitation. Exploitation requires user interaction by a site administrator plus additional conditions: uploaded payload material and a suitable PHP object chain. That lowers immediacy but not potential impact.

Researcher notes

Focus validation on plugin version, admin-side request handling, nonce or CSRF controls, PHAR-related file handling, and whether local dependencies expose a POP chain. Do not assume exploitability without confirming the upload prerequisite and object-chain conditions.

Mitigation direction

  • Update Ajax Load More to a vendor release containing the referenced fix.
  • If immediate update is unavailable, disable the plugin on exposed sites.
  • Restrict WordPress administrator access and reinforce anti-phishing controls.
  • Review upload locations and remove untrusted files after preservation.
  • Monitor vendor, Wordfence, and CVE pages for version-specific guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory WordPress sites for Ajax Load More plugin versions.
  • Confirm no site runs Ajax Load More 5.5.3 or earlier.
  • Review admin activity for suspicious repeater export requests.
  • Check upload areas for unexpected serialized or archive-like files.
  • Verify installed code includes the referenced vendor changes.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
6

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cwe · medium confidence lookup

CWE-502: Code execution behavior lookup

Code execution and unsafe deserialization weaknesses often justify reviewing execution behavior and process telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2022-2433 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
5Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.65.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2022-2433Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
dcooneyAjax Load More – Infinite Scroll, Load More, & Lazy Load0unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-502

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-502 · source CWE mapping

Deserialization of Untrusted Data

Deserialization of Untrusted Data represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.

Open CWE intelligenceSame-CWE CVEs