Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This issue affects WordPress sites using the WPML Multilingual CMS premium plugin version 4.5.10 or earlier. A logged-in low-privilege user, such as a subscriber, could improperly change translation job statuses. The cited impact is limited integrity damage, not data theft or service outage.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate-priority integrity issue. It is not reported as actively exploited, but affected public WordPress sites with many registered users should remediate promptly.
Technical view
CVE-2022-38974 is a broken access control flaw in WPML Multilingual CMS <= 4.5.10. Authenticated WordPress users with Subscriber or higher privileges can change translation job status. CVSS 4.3 reflects network reachability, low complexity, required low privileges, no user interaction, and limited integrity impact only.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to WordPress installations running WPML Multilingual CMS 4.5.10 or earlier, especially sites allowing subscriber-level or other low-privilege accounts.
Exploitation context
The supplied sources do not report active exploitation, and the CVE is not marked KEV. Exploitation requires an authenticated WordPress account with Subscriber or higher privileges.
Researcher notes
The available evidence identifies the affected product, versions, privilege requirement, and impact, but does not include detailed root cause, fixed version, or exploit telemetry. Avoid assuming broader WPML components are affected without vendor confirmation.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory WordPress sites using WPML Multilingual CMS.
- Confirm whether installed WPML versions are 4.5.10 or earlier.
- Check vendor or Patchstack guidance for the fixed version and update path.
- Restrict unnecessary subscriber or low-privilege accounts until remediation is complete.
- Review translation workflows for unexpected status changes.
Validation and detection
- Verify the WPML Multilingual CMS plugin version on each WordPress site.
- List WordPress users with Subscriber or higher roles on affected sites.
- Review translation job status history for unauthorized or unusual changes.
- Confirm remediation against vendor or Patchstack guidance after updating.
- Re-test role permissions for translation job status changes.
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-2022-38974 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.3 (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:N
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:N2.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
4.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
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.