Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-2440 affects the WordPress Theme Editor plugin versions up to and including 2.8. A logged-in administrator could abuse file handling to trigger unsafe PHP object deserialization, potentially leading to serious site compromise if other required conditions are present.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for WordPress environments using the plugin, especially where admin accounts are shared, weakly protected, or externally managed. Prioritize inventory, update or removal, and admin account review.
Technical view
The issue is CWE-502 deserialization of untrusted input through the images_array parameter. An authenticated Admin+ attacker can reference a PHAR wrapper so PHP deserializes embedded objects. Impact depends on successful payload upload and the presence of a usable POP chain. CVSS 3.1 is 7.2 high.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress sites running Theme Editor up to version 2.8 where an attacker already has administrator access or can compromise an admin account.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show KEV listing or active exploitation. Exploitation requires high privileges, payload upload, PHAR handling, and a compatible object chain, so this is not a simple unauthenticated internet-wide issue.
Researcher notes
The structured affected data in the bundle appears limited, while the title and description identify Theme Editor <= 2.8. No exact fixed version is stated in the bundle. Validate against Wordfence and the WordPress Trac changeset before closing remediation.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites for the Theme Editor plugin and installed version.
- Check vendor or WordPress plugin guidance for the fixed supported release.
- Upgrade beyond the affected range if a maintained fixed version is available.
- Remove or disable the plugin where it is not business-critical.
- Restrict and review WordPress administrator accounts.
- Investigate unexpected file uploads by administrator accounts.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Theme Editor is installed on each WordPress site.
- Record plugin versions and flag versions up to and including 2.8.
- Review administrative user activity for unexpected file uploads or plugin actions.
- Check whether any compensating controls restrict administrator file upload behavior.
- Review the referenced WordPress changeset for remediation context.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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-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.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-2440 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.2 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe 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.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.25.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.2HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.wordfence.com/threat-intel/vulnerabilities/id/88fe46bf-8e85-4550-92ad-bdd426e5a745?source=cveCVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/theme-editor/trunk/ms_child_theme_editor.php#L495CVE reference
- https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/changeset/3142694/CVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
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.