Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2022-38461 affects the premium WPML Multilingual CMS WordPress plugin through version 4.5.10. A low-privileged logged-in user, such as a subscriber, could change certain plugin settings. The likely business impact is site integrity and availability disruption, not data theft, based on the provided CVSS and description.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate-priority WordPress hygiene issue. It is not described as data theft or unauthenticated takeover, but it can let low-privileged users alter multilingual site behavior and disrupt publishing quality.
Technical view
The issue is broken access control in WPML Multilingual CMS <= 4.5.10. Authenticated users with subscriber or higher roles can modify settings for legacy widget language selection and default media content behavior. The CVSS 3.1 score is 5.4, with low attack complexity and required low privileges.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to WordPress sites using WPML Multilingual CMS premium plugin version 4.5.10 or earlier, especially where untrusted users can register or hold subscriber-level accounts.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation. It indicates network-accessible, authenticated abuse requiring a subscriber-or-higher WordPress account. No public exploit details were provided.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE record, CVE List entry, and Patchstack reference. The bundle does not provide endpoint details, proof-of-concept information, active exploitation evidence, or an explicit fixed version. Avoid assuming broader WPML impact beyond the named settings.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites using WPML Multilingual CMS.
- Prioritize sites running WPML version 4.5.10 or earlier.
- Check vendor and Patchstack guidance for the fixed upgrade path.
- Restrict untrusted subscriber-level accounts until remediated.
- Review WPML settings for unexpected language or media behavior changes.
Validation and detection
- Confirm the installed WPML Multilingual CMS version on each WordPress site.
- Review whether public registration or low-trust subscriber accounts are enabled.
- After remediation, verify subscriber users cannot change WPML settings.
- Check administrative logs for unexpected WPML configuration changes.
- Document affected sites, versions, owners, and remediation status.
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
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ATT&CK lookup starting points
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CWE-264: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2022-38461 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L2.82.5Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:L
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.
Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls
Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.